Located in Washington County, Utah, Kolob Canyons Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint at about 1,883 m (6,178 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Zion National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Toquerville, about 22 km (13 mi) away (Kolob Canyons Viewpoint lies NNE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Kolob Canyons Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:37 AM | 90° E | 7:45 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 59° ENE | 8:58 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:21 AM | 89° E | 7:31 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:44 AM | 120° ESE | 5:19 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 35m |
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
Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:26 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:07 PM | 9h 52m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:13 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:19 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:06 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:55 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 11m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:17 PM | 8:56 PM | 9:27 PM | 14h 44m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:54 PM | 9:25 PM | 14h 30m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:54 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:50 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:15 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:51 PM | 10h 10m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:22 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:46 PM | 9h 36m |
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 Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:31 AM – 5:51 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:38 AM – 6:08 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:41 AM – 5:21 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:40 AM – 4:30 AM | 3.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| June | 10:50 PM – 4:10 AM | 5.3 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:44 PM – 2:44 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:04 PM – 12:44 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:11 PM – 10:41 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:24 PM – 8:44 PM | 0.3 | 13° | 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 ≈ 21.74 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 22% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (51%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 68 | 70 | 80 | 86 | 96 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 101 | 87 | 77 | 62 |
| Low °F | -3 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 26 | 37 | 52 | 48 | 32 | 16 | 10 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
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 scenic viewpoint
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
- A panorama of 3–5 vertical frames gives more resolution and a wider view without a fisheye look.
- Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, Graduated ND filter, 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 Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, closest first.
Natural Arch
Canyon
Mountain Peak
Wilderness Area
Wilderness AreaWilderness Area
Wilderness Area
Wilderness Area
CanyonCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Lava Point Campground16.0 km (9.9 mi) · reservable
- Pyramid Ridge Campground22 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Pine Valley Recreation Area 24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Pine Valley Guard Station25 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Red Cliffs Campground30 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Kolob Canyons Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Kolob Canyons Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Kolob Canyons Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Kolob Canyons Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Kolob Canyons Viewpoint?
How far is Kolob Canyons Viewpoint from Toquerville?
Sources
Location data: 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.