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37.2833° N110.9646° W1,257 mBortle 1Denver

Bement Arch Photography Guide

Natural Arch in Kane County, Utah · 1,257 m (4,124 ft)

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–301°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

Bement Arch — a natural arch in Kane County, Utah at about 1,257 m (4,124 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Page, about 60 km (37 mi) away (Bement Arch lies NE of town).

Elevation
1,257 m
4,124 ft
Nearest town
Page
60 km (37 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
June
30% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:13 PM
sunset 6:48 PM

Light at Bement Arch

Live
Sunrise
7:37 AM
Sunset
6:42 PM
Golden hour AM
7:21 AM – 8:13 AM
Golden hour PM
6:06 PM – 6:58 PM
Blue hour AM
7:11 AM – 7:21 AM
Blue hour PM
6:58 PM – 7:08 PM
Full darkness
8:09 PM – 6:11 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:50 PM / 1:50 AM
Day length
11h 04m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
258°
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.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Bement Arch the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (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 29° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:28 AM90° E7:36 PM271° W53°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:04 AM59° ENE8:48 PM301° WNW76°14h 44m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:12 AM89° E7:22 PM271° W53°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:35 AM119° ESE5:10 PM241° WSW29°9h 35m

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

Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:09 AM7:37 AM8:17 AM4:51 PM5:30 PM5:59 PM9h 53m
February6:47 AM7:14 AM7:50 AM5:28 PM6:04 PM6:31 PM10h 50m
March7:10 AM7:36 AM8:10 AM6:57 PM7:31 PM7:57 PM11h 56m
April6:23 AM6:50 AM7:25 AM7:24 PM7:59 PM8:26 PM13h 09m
May5:47 AM6:16 AM6:53 AM7:49 PM8:26 PM8:55 PM14h 10m
June5:33 AM6:04 AM6:43 AM8:08 PM8:47 PM9:18 PM14h 43m
July5:46 AM6:16 AM6:54 AM8:07 PM8:45 PM9:15 PM14h 29m
August6:13 AM6:41 AM7:17 AM7:42 PM8:17 PM8:45 PM13h 36m
September6:41 AM7:07 AM7:41 AM6:59 PM7:33 PM7:59 PM12h 27m
October7:06 AM7:32 AM8:08 AM6:13 PM6:48 PM7:14 PM11h 16m
November6:36 AM7:04 AM7:42 AM4:37 PM5:15 PM5:43 PM10h 11m
December7:02 AM7:32 AM8:12 AM4:28 PM5:08 PM5:37 PM9h 37m

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 Bement Arch, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. 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 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
February5:22 AM – 5:42 AM0.314°SE → SE
March4:28 AM – 5:58 AM1.520°SE → SSE
April2:21 AM – 5:11 AM2.824°SE → S
May12:30 AM – 4:30 AM4.024°SE → SSW
June10:40 PM – 4:10 AM5.524°SE → SW
July10:34 PM – 2:44 AM4.224°SSE → SW
August9:54 PM – 12:44 AM2.824°S → SW
September9:02 PM – 10:42 PM1.720°SSW → SW
October8:15 PM – 8:35 PM0.314°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.94 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (51%). 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
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F66698189101105108105102927864
Low °F311822284054533516169
Precip. (in)0.70.70.60.50.50.20.81.01.01.00.60.7

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 natural arch

  • Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
  • Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
  • Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.
  • Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.

Suggested gear: Ultra-wide lens, Tripod, Headlamp, Plenty of water. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Bement Arch, closest first.

Natural Arch
LaGorce Arch3.7 km away · Kane County
Cathedral in the DesertRock Formation
Cathedral in the Desert4.4 km away · San Juan County
Natural Arch
Gregory Natural Bridge5.6 km away · Kane County
Broken Bow ArchNatural Arch
Broken Bow Arch5.9 km away · Kane County
Natural Arch
Sunset Natural Bridge8.7 km away · Kane County
Natural Arch
Bell Tower Window10 km away · San Juan County
Natural Arch
Zane Grey Arch12 km away · Kane County
Natural Arch
Triple Arch12 km away · San Juan County
Sunset Natural ArchNatural Arch
Sunset Natural Arch13 km away · Kane County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Bement Arch?
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 offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
What time is golden hour at Bement Arch?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:13 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:48 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:08 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Bement Arch?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 59° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 301° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Bement Arch?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bement Arch?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Bement Arch from Page?
About 60 km (37 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.