Utah Lake State Park — a state park in Utah County, Utah — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 6.5 km (4.0 mi) W of Provo.
Utah Lake State Park is a state park in Provo, Utah, United States. The park is located at the west end of Provo Center Street on the east shore of Utah Lake, the largest fresh water lake in the state, and immediately northwest of the Provo Municipal Airport. The park offers fishing for channel catfish, walleye, white bass, and black bass as well as swimming, boating, paddleboarding, RV camping, and a marina.From the Wikipedia article “Utah Lake State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Utah Lake 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (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) | 7:31 AM | 90° E | 7:39 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:58 AM | 58° ENE | 9:01 PM | 302° WNW | 73° | 15h 02m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:15 AM | 89° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:47 AM | 121° ESE | 5:05 PM | 240° WSW | 26° | 9h 18m |
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 | 8:30 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:56 PM | 9h 37m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:03 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 42m |
| March | 7:12 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:01 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 16m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:07 PM | 14h 24m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:32 PM | 15h 01m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:56 PM | 9:28 PM | 14h 46m |
| August | 6:10 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:05 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 58m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:26 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 19m |
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 Utah Lake State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 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 6 (bright 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 | 5:44 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:55 AM – 6:05 AM | 1.2 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:43 AM – 5:03 AM | 2.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:48 AM – 4:18 AM | 3.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 11:03 PM – 3:53 AM | 4.8 | 21° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:54 PM – 2:24 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 10:08 PM – 12:28 AM | 2.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:10 PM – 10:20 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:19 PM – 8:19 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.01 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
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Utah Lake State Park, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Canyon
Canyon
Canyon
Scenic Viewpoint
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
Wilderness AreaCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Hope12.5 km (7.7 mi) · reservable
- Rock Canyon13.5 km (8.4 mi) · reservable
- Whiting21 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Theater In The Pines22 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Mt. Timpanogos22 km (14 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Utah Lake State Park?
What time is golden hour at Utah Lake State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Utah Lake State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Utah Lake State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Utah Lake State Park?
How far is Utah Lake State Park from Provo?
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.