Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Arizona, Utah. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 15 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Glen Canyon
We matched 15 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Glen Canyon. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (2)
Natural Arches (4)
Natural Arch
Natural Arch
Natural Arch
Natural ArchLakes (1)
Canyons (3)
Rock Formations (5)
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
Rock FormationSunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Glen Canyon the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:33 PM | 244° | 9h 54m |
| February | 7:15 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:07 PM | 255° | 10h 51m |
| March | 6:38 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:27 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:01 PM | 283° | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:19 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:27 PM | 295° | 14h 09m |
| June | 5:07 AM | 5:45 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:48 PM | 301° | 14h 41m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:46 PM | 298° | 14h 27m |
| August | 5:44 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:19 PM | 288° | 13h 35m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:35 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:51 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 7:05 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:18 PM | 247° | 10h 12m |
| December | 7:33 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:11 PM | 241° | 9h 39m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.9357, -111.4856); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Glen Canyon, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:24 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.3 | 14° |
| March | 3:30 AM – 5:00 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 1:23 AM – 4:13 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 11:31 PM – 3:31 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 9:40 PM – 3:10 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 9:34 PM – 1:44 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 8:55 PM – 11:45 PM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:03 PM – 9:43 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:17 PM – 7:47 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is usually typical for the high deserts. Summers are extremely hot with little, if any, shade. Winters are moderately cold with night time lows often below freezing. Spring weather is highly variable and unpredictable with extended periods of winds. Fall weather is usually nice and mild, a great time to beat the heat (and the crowds!).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (50%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
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 fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
There are multiple districts in Glen Canyon very far away from each other. Avoid a two hundred mile detour and make sure you know which district you are going to before you begin travelling here.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- ATV Off-Roading
- Auto Off-Roading
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Boat Tour
- Hands-On
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Kayaking
Nearby parks
UT
AZ/CA
AZ
UT
AZ
AZ