The Craters is a volcano in Iron County, Utah at about 3,098 m (10,164 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Cedar Breaks National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Cedar City, about 23 km (14 mi) away (The Craters lies ESE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At The Craters 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) | 7:36 AM | 90° E | 7:43 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:11 AM | 59° ENE | 8:57 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 46m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:20 AM | 89° E | 7:30 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:43 AM | 120° ESE | 5:17 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 34m |
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
Volcanic cones and lava fields have strong shapes that read well in side-light; dark basalt needs careful exposure.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:25 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:05 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:38 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:18 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:05 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:53 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:04 PM | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:39 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:49 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:26 PM | 14h 45m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:24 PM | 14h 31m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:53 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 10m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 35m |
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 The Craters, 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 | 5:29 AM – 5:49 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:36 AM – 6:06 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:39 AM – 5:19 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:38 AM – 4:28 AM | 3.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| June | 10:48 PM – 4:08 AM | 5.3 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:42 PM – 2:42 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:02 PM – 12:42 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:09 PM – 10:39 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:22 PM – 8:42 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 ≈ 21.77 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). 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 | 60 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 90 | 97 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 81 | 70 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | -7 | 0 | 16 | 21 | 29 | 44 | 41 | 25 | 10 | 0 | -11 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
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 volcano
- Snow-capped volcanoes reflect alpenglow at sunrise — shoot from a lake or meadow for a reflection.
- Lava rock is sharp and unstable; stay on trails.
- Long lenses from 20–60 miles away make large stratovolcanoes dominate the horizon.
- Check local volcanic activity notices and area closures before visiting.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Summer for high trails; winter and spring for snowy cones viewed from below.
Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Sturdy boots. 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 The Craters, closest first.
Natural Arch
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Dark Sky Place
Wilderness Area
Mountain Peak
Natural ArchScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Point Supreme Campground1.2 km (0.8 mi) · reservable
- Cedar Canyon7.4 km (4.6 mi) · reservable
- Te-Ah8.0 km (5.0 mi) · reservable
- Deer Haven8.5 km (5.3 mi) · reservable
- Navajo Lake Campground9.7 km (6.0 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph The Craters?
What time is golden hour at The Craters?
Where does the sun rise and set at The Craters?
Can you see the Milky Way from The Craters?
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Craters?
How far is The Craters from Cedar City?
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.