Small rounded canyons with large sandstone cliffs and mountains in the background
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Canyonlands National Park Photography Guide

National Park · Utah

  • Bortle 1
  • 59 photo spots
  • Clearest: June
Photo: NPS/Rhodes Smartt · Public domain (NPS)

Canyonlands National Park is a National Park in Utah. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 59 photo locations inside or next to the park.

Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts share similar desert ecosystems, but each one provides unique opportunities for adventure and discovery.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
59
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
June
31% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Moab
46 km (29 mi)

Light at Canyonlands

Live
Sunrise
7:34 AM
Sunset
6:36 PM
Golden hour AM
7:17 AM – 8:10 AM
Golden hour PM
6:00 PM – 6:53 PM
Blue hour AM
7:07 AM – 7:17 AM
Blue hour PM
6:53 PM – 7:03 PM
Full darkness
8:04 PM – 6:07 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:47 PM / 1:43 AM
Day length
11h 02m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Best photo spots in Canyonlands

We matched 59 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Canyonlands. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.

Scenic Viewpoints (18)

Buck Canyon OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Buck Canyon OverlookSan Juan County · 1,881 m
Big Spring Canyon Overlook: Protecting WildernessScenic Viewpoint
Big Spring Canyon Overlook: Protecting WildernessSan Juan County
Chesler Park Viewpoint TrailScenic Viewpoint
Chesler Park Viewpoint TrailSan Juan County
Confluence Overlook TrailScenic Viewpoint
Confluence Overlook TrailSan Juan County
Scenic Viewpoint
Colorado River OverlookSan Juan County · 1,453 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Candlestick Tower OverlookGrand County
Scenic Viewpoint
Bagpipe Butte OverlookWayne County · 2,024 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Big Spring Canyon OverlookSan Juan County · 1,548 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Canyonlands OverlookSan Juan County · 1,783 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Confluence OverlookSan Juan County · 1,434 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Grand View Point OverlookSan Juan County · 1,909 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Green River OverlookSan Juan County · 1,824 m

Waterfalls (2)

Waterfall
Lower JumpSan Juan County · 1,404 m
Waterfall
Upper JumpSan Juan County · 1,713 m

Natural Arches (24)

Druid ArchNatural Arch
Druid ArchSan Juan County
Mesa ArchNatural Arch
Mesa ArchSan Juan County
Angel ArchNatural Arch
Angel ArchSan Juan County
Washer WomanNatural Arch
Washer WomanSan Juan County
Musselman ArchNatural Arch
Musselman ArchSan Juan County
Paul Bunyans PottyNatural Arch
Paul Bunyans PottySan Juan County
Beehive ArchNatural Arch
Beehive ArchWayne County
Natural Arch
Wooden Shoe ArchSan Juan County
Natural Arch
Wedding Ring ArchSan Juan County
Natural Arch
Anchor ArchSan Juan County
Natural Arch
Castle ArchSan Juan County
Natural Arch
Cave ArchGarfield County

Canyons (6)

Bluejohn CanyonCanyon
Bluejohn CanyonWayne County
Horseshoe CanyonCanyon
Horseshoe CanyonGrand County
Stillwater CanyonCanyon
Stillwater CanyonGrand County
Big Spring Canyon to Elephant Canyon Loop TrailCanyon
Big Spring Canyon to Elephant Canyon Loop TrailSan Juan County
Big Spring Canyon to Wooden Shoe Canyon Loop TrailCanyon
Big Spring Canyon to Wooden Shoe Canyon Loop TrailSan Juan County
Canyon
Buck Canyon: Tracks in the CanyonGrand County

Rock Formations (6)

Candlestick TowerRock Formation
Candlestick TowerGrand County
Elaterite ButteRock Formation
Elaterite ButteGarfield County
Muffin ButteRock Formation
Muffin ButteGrand County
Airport TowerRock Formation
Airport TowerGrand County
Rock Formation
Aztec Butte TrailGrand County
Rock Formation
Aztec Butte: The Value of StorageGrand County

Caves (2)

Canyonlands' Cave Spring TrailCave
Canyonlands' Cave Spring TrailSan Juan County
Cave Spring: Water to Live ByCave
Cave Spring: Water to Live BySan Juan County

Dark Sky Places (1)

Canyonlands National ParkDark Sky Place
Canyonlands National ParkSan Juan County

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Canyonlands 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.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:36 AM8:16 AM4:43 PM5:23 PM244°9h 48m
February7:11 AM7:48 AM5:22 PM5:58 PM255°10h 47m
March7:32 AM8:07 AM6:52 PM7:27 PM268°11h 55m
April6:44 AM7:20 AM7:20 PM7:56 PM283°13h 11m
May6:09 AM6:47 AM7:46 PM8:24 PM295°14h 15m
June5:56 AM6:36 AM8:06 PM8:45 PM301°14h 49m
July6:09 AM6:48 AM8:05 PM8:43 PM299°14h 34m
August6:35 AM7:11 AM7:39 PM8:15 PM289°13h 40m
September7:02 AM7:37 AM6:54 PM7:29 PM275°12h 27m
October7:29 AM8:05 AM6:07 PM6:43 PM260°11h 14m
November7:02 AM7:40 AM4:30 PM5:08 PM247°10h 07m
December7:30 AM8:11 AM4:20 PM5:01 PM241°9h 31m

Computed for the park's reference point (38.2456, -109.8802); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Canyonlands, 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.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:17 AM – 5:37 AM0.313°
March4:25 AM – 5:55 AM1.519°
April2:30 AM – 5:00 AM2.522°
May12:30 AM – 4:20 AM3.823°
June10:42 PM – 3:52 AM5.223°
July10:35 PM – 2:35 AM4.023°
August9:54 PM – 12:34 AM2.723°
September8:59 PM – 10:29 PM1.519°
October8:11 PM – 8:31 PM0.313°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.

Weather & best time to visit

Canyonlands is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 31% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (56%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. 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.

Entrance feeCost (USD)
Entrance - Private Vehicle$30.00
Entrance - Motorcycle$25.00
Entrance - Per Person$15.00

Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.

Getting there

Canyonlands National Park is cut into three land districts by the Green and Colorado rivers. Island in the Sky, in the north of the park, is about 40 minutes from Moab, UT via UT 313. The Needles district is in the southeast corner of Canyonlands, about 90 minutes from Moab or an hour from Monticello, UT via UT 211. The Maze district, in the west of the park, is the most remote and challenging; its ranger station is down 46 miles of dirt road from UT 24. All roads in The Maze require high-clearance 4WD.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Group Camping
  • Climbing
  • Rock Climbing
  • Guided Tours
  • Boat Tour
  • Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Paddling
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Park Film
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Nearby parks

Arches National ParkUT
Arches National Park59 km away · National Park
Natural Bridges National MonumentUT
Natural Bridges National Monument72 km away · National Monument
Capitol Reef National ParkUT
Capitol Reef National Park119 km away · National Park
Hovenweep National MonumentCO/UT
Hovenweep National Monument122 km away · National Monument
Colorado National MonumentCO
Colorado National Monument137 km away · National Monument
Yucca House National MonumentCO
Yucca House National Monument153 km away · National Monument

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Canyonlands National Park?
June has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Canyonlands?
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.
Can you fly a drone in Canyonlands?
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.
Can you see the Milky Way in Canyonlands?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 1.
What time is sunset in Canyonlands?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:43 PM local time; see the live widget for today.