Located in Box Elder County, Utah, Chinese Arch is a natural arch at about 1,473 m (4,833 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Golden Spike National Historical Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Tremonton, about 29 km (18 mi) away (Chinese Arch lies WSW of town).
Wikidata describes it as: “natural arch in the Golden Spike National Historic Park in Box Elder County, Utah, United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Chinese Arch the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:34 AM | 90° E | 7:42 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:57 AM | 57° ENE | 9:08 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 12m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:18 AM | 89° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:54 AM | 121° ESE | 5:03 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 09m |
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 | 7:24 AM | 7:55 AM | 8:38 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:55 PM | 9h 30m |
| February | 6:58 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:05 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:32 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:19 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:04 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:40 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:43 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 32m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:41 PM | 15h 11m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:04 PM | 9:37 PM | 14h 54m |
| August | 6:10 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:01 PM | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:43 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:15 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:20 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:50 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 51m |
| December | 7:19 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:35 AM | 4:17 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 11m |
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 Chinese Arch, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 3:01 AM – 5:01 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:59 AM – 4:09 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 11:18 PM – 3:38 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:08 PM – 2:18 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 10:17 PM – 12:17 AM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 9:16 PM – 10:16 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.64 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (72%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 59 | 60 | 75 | 84 | 95 | 101 | 102 | 100 | 95 | 85 | 70 | 58 |
| Low °F | -14 | -1 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 39 | 50 | 49 | 36 | 19 | -3 | -10 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
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
- 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.
- Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Chinese Arch, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chinese Arch?
What time is golden hour at Chinese Arch?
Where does the sun rise and set at Chinese Arch?
Can you see the Milky Way from Chinese Arch?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Chinese Arch?
How far is Chinese Arch from Tremonton?
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.