Torrey — a dark sky place in Wayne County, Utah — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Capitol Reef National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Richfield, about 78 km (48 mi) away (Torrey lies SE of town). It is certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International.
Torrey is a town located on State Route 24 in Wayne County, Utah, United States, 8 miles (13 km) from Capitol Reef National Park. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 231.From the Wikipedia article “Torrey, Utah”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Torrey the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:30 AM | 90° E | 7:38 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:03 AM | 59° ENE | 8:53 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 50m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:14 AM | 89° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:40 AM | 120° ESE | 5:09 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 30m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Certified dark sky places offer protected night skies — plan around the new moon and the Milky Way core season.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:13 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:22 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:58 PM | 9h 48m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:13 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:33 PM | 7:59 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:23 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 14h 15m |
| June | 5:31 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 49m |
| July | 5:44 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:20 PM | 14h 35m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:49 PM | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:02 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 07m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:37 PM | 9h 31m |
Local time (America/Denver), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Torrey, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:23 AM – 5:43 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:31 AM – 6:01 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:36 AM – 5:06 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:36 AM – 4:26 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:48 PM – 3:58 AM | 5.2 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:41 PM – 2:41 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:59 PM – 12:39 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:05 PM – 10:35 PM | 1.5 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:17 PM – 8:37 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 35% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 59 | 65 | 74 | 81 | 94 | 97 | 100 | 97 | 96 | 83 | 71 | 59 |
| Low °F | -11 | -7 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 30 | 46 | 43 | 25 | 13 | 0 | -7 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this dark sky place
- Many parks host star parties and night programs during summer.
- Use the Milky Way table to find months and hours when the core is above the horizon.
- Use red light only and keep it pointed down to protect others' night vision.
- Set focus on a bright star with live-view magnification, then tape the focus ring.
- Use the NPF rule below to choose the longest exposure before stars trail.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
Season: Milky Way core season runs roughly March to October; winter offers long nights and bright winter constellations.
Suggested gear: Fast wide lens (f/1.4–f/2.8), Sturdy tripod, Red headlamp, Intervalometer. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Torrey, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Ghost Town
Natural Arch
Natural Arch
Natural Arch
Mountain Peak
WaterfallScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Sunglow Campground9.7 km (6.0 mi) · reservable
- Capitol Reef Group Campground14.9 km (9.3 mi) · reservable
- Fruita Campground15.3 km (9.5 mi) · reservable
- Singletree17.3 km (10.8 mi) · reservable
- Aquarius Ranger Station18.0 km (11.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Torrey?
What time is golden hour at Torrey?
Where does the sun rise and set at Torrey?
Can you see the Milky Way from Torrey?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Torrey?
How far is Torrey from Richfield?
Sources
Location data: DarkSky International (via Wikidata), Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.