Moonshine Arch Photography Guide

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Moonshine Arch the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

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.

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 Moonshine Arch, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

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.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (69%). 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 (%)

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.

Nearby photo spots

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

Dark Sky Place

Steinaker State Park4.5 km away · Uintah County

State Park

Red Fleet State Park10 km away · Uintah County

Scenic Viewpoint

Brush Creek Canyon Overlook10 km away · Uintah County · 2,503 m

Scenic Viewpoint

Little Mountain Overlook13 km away · Uintah County · 2,623 m

Scenic Viewpoint

Dry Fork Overlook21 km away · Uintah County · 2,857 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

• Colton Guard Station12.6 km (7.8 mi) · reservable
• Iron Springs Group Ashley16.3 km (10.1 mi) · reservable
• Kaler Hollow Campground17.3 km (10.8 mi)
• Grizzly Ridge Yurt21 km (13 mi) · reservable
• Oaks Park Campground22 km (13 mi)

FAQ

Sources

Location data: Wikidata. 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.