Broken Bow Arch is a natural arch in Kane County, Utah at about 1,232 m (4,042 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Page, about 61 km (38 mi) away (Broken Bow Arch lies NE of town).
Wikidata describes it as: “natural arch in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Kane County, Utah, United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Broken Bow 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:28 AM | 90° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:04 AM | 59° ENE | 8:49 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:35 AM | 119° ESE | 5:10 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:09 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:59 PM | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:47 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:10 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:10 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:58 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:23 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:47 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:33 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 43m |
| July | 5:46 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 29m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:00 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:06 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:15 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 11m |
| December | 7:03 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:37 PM | 9h 36m |
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 Broken Bow 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:22 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.3 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:28 AM – 5:58 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:21 AM – 5:11 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:30 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:40 PM – 4:10 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:34 PM – 2:44 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:54 PM – 12:44 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 9:02 PM – 10:42 PM | 1.7 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:15 PM – 8:35 PM | 0.3 | 14° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.94 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 31% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (54%). 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 | 65 | 69 | 80 | 87 | 98 | 103 | 107 | 103 | 100 | 90 | 74 | 63 |
| Low °F | 2 | 1 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 37 | 54 | 50 | 32 | 16 | 13 | 5 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
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
- 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.
- At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
- Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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.
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 25 km of Broken Bow Arch, closest first.
Natural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural Arch
Natural Arch
Rock FormationNatural Arch
Natural Arch
Natural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Broken Bow Arch?
What time is golden hour at Broken Bow Arch?
Where does the sun rise and set at Broken Bow Arch?
Can you see the Milky Way from Broken Bow Arch?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Broken Bow Arch?
How far is Broken Bow Arch from Page?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.