Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry — a rock formation in Coconino County, Arizona — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 17.2 km (10.7 mi) W of LeChee.
From the National Park Service
Thousands of years ago a huge rock boulder broke from the cliff above and tumbled to a stop here. The hard conglomerate boulder compressed the softer dirt directly beneath, making it resistant to erosion. The boulder also acted as a massive umbrella, protecting the stone beneath from years of wind and rain. Over time, at least 6 feet (2.8 m) of the surrounding loose ground was carried away, leaving an ever-growing pedestal with a balanced rock perched on top. You can see this process taking place under many rocks in the area. At some point, the sheltering boulder may become too much weight for its pedestal, toppling and taking another fateful tumble.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry 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 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:31 AM | 90° E | 6:39 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:08 AM | 60° ENE | 7:50 PM | 301° WNW | 77° | 14h 41m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:15 AM | 89° E | 6:25 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 119° ESE | 5:14 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 38m |
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
Rock towers and buttes glow red and orange in the first and last half-hour of sun; midday light flattens their shape.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:02 PM | 9h 55m |
| February | 6:49 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:07 PM | 6:34 PM | 10h 51m |
| March | 6:13 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:34 PM | 7:00 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:26 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:28 PM | 13h 08m |
| May | 4:51 AM | 5:20 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:57 PM | 14h 08m |
| June | 4:37 AM | 5:08 AM | 5:46 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:19 PM | 14h 40m |
| July | 4:50 AM | 5:20 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:16 PM | 14h 27m |
| August | 5:17 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:47 PM | 13h 35m |
| September | 5:44 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:44 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:36 PM | 7:02 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:10 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:17 PM | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:46 PM | 10h 13m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:12 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 39m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:31 AM – 5:11 AM | 1.7 | 21° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:23 AM – 4:13 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 11:30 PM – 3:30 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:40 PM – 3:10 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:34 PM – 1:44 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:55 PM – 11:45 PM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 8:04 PM – 9:44 PM | 1.7 | 21° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:18 PM – 7:48 PM | 0.5 | 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.88 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 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 62 | 67 | 79 | 86 | 96 | 102 | 103 | 100 | 98 | 87 | 77 | 63 |
| Low °F | 2 | 0 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 38 | 50 | 49 | 32 | 16 | 15 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
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 rock formation
- Use the sunrise and sunset azimuths below to know which face will be lit.
- Stay on trails; desert soils and lichens take decades to recover from footprints.
- Find a spot where the formation sits against open sky to emphasize its silhouette.
- At night, a formation under the Milky Way or star trails makes a strong anchor.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring and autumn are best in desert regions; winter snow on red rock is rare but spectacular.
Suggested gear: Wide and telephoto lenses, Tripod, Headlamp. 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 Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry, closest first.
Canyon
Canyon
Ghost Town
Scenic Viewpoint
Lake
Wilderness AreaScenic Viewpoint
Natural Arch
Natural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Lees Ferry Campground3.1 km (1.9 mi)
- Colorado River Primitive Camping Between Glen Canyon Dam And Lees Ferry4.9 km (3.1 mi)
- Beehives Primitive Campground16.2 km (10.1 mi)
- Wahweap Campground & Rv Park21 km (13 mi)
- Antelope Point Rv Park22 km (14 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry?
What time is golden hour at Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry?
Where does the sun rise and set at Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry?
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Do you need a permit to photograph at Balanced Rock at Lees Ferry?
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Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.