Located in Summit County, Utah, Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park is a state park. The nearest town is Park City, about 1.6 km (1.0 mi) away (Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park lies N of town).
The Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park is a recreational trail that follows abandoned railroad lines in Summit County, Utah, United States. The Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail is 28 miles (45 km) long, and averages 125 feet (38 m) wide. The trail stretches between Park City (beginning at 40.66°N/111.5013889°W) and Echo Reservoir (ending at 40.972041°N/111.437895°W), following Interstate 80 across Silver Creek Canyon, then going along the Weber River through the towns of Wanship and Coalville. Elevation along the trail varies from 5,280 feet (1,610 m) to 6,900 feet (2,100 m), and total acreage is 450 acres (1.8 km2). The trail is designated to be used for only non-motorized activities, including biking, hiking, horseback riding, jogging, and Nordic skiing. The trail is managed by the Mountain Trails Foundation.From the Wikipedia article “Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:30 AM | 90° E | 7:38 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:56 AM | 58° ENE | 9:01 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 05m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:14 AM | 89° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:47 AM | 121° ESE | 5:03 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 15m |
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
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:31 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:54 PM | 9h 35m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:23 PM | 6:01 PM | 6:29 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:00 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 27m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:36 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:33 PM | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:49 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:57 PM | 9:29 PM | 14h 48m |
| August | 6:08 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:15 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:39 PM | 9h 56m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:27 AM | 4:17 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:31 PM | 9h 17m |
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 Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park, 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 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:43 AM – 5:43 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:54 AM – 6:04 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:54 AM – 5:04 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:50 AM – 4:10 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 11:06 PM – 3:46 AM | 4.7 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:57 PM – 2:17 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 10:09 PM – 12:19 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:10 PM – 10:20 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:18 PM – 8:18 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.66 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 34% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 50 | 56 | 67 | 74 | 84 | 90 | 96 | 92 | 88 | 79 | 65 | 49 |
| Low °F | -23 | -28 | -14 | -6 | 8 | 22 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 1 | -17 | -21 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
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 state park
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass
Waterfall
Dark Sky Place
Hot Spring
Canyon
Ghost Town
Covered BridgeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Redman Campground9.0 km (5.6 mi) · reservable
- Spruces - Big Cottonwood11.6 km (7.2 mi) · reservable
- Jordan Pines12.3 km (7.7 mi) · reservable
- Albion Basin13.1 km (8.2 mi) · reservable
- Tanners Flat19.3 km (12.0 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park?
What time is golden hour at Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park?
How far is Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park from Park City?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.