Located in Mesa County, Colorado, Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness is a wilderness area. It is part of McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The nearest town is Loma, about 14.3 km (8.9 mi) away (Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness lies SW of town).
The Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness (BRCW) is located in western Colorado with a small portion extending into eastern Utah, USA, within the arid Colorado Plateau region approximately 15 miles (24 km) west of Grand Junction, Colorado. The wilderness lies on the northwest flank of the Uncompahgre Plateau. It is characterized by the high, east-west trending Black Ridge dissected by seven major canyon systems, draining into the Colorado River in Ruby Canyon. Elevations range from 4,700 feet (1,400 m) above sea level along the river to 6,800 feet (2,070 m). Canyons vary in length from several miles to twelve miles in length and may contain interesting side canyons. Geological features in these canyons include spires, windows, giant alcoves and desert varnish. Canyons may reach a depth of almost 1,000 feet (300 m), forming spectacular red rock cliffs. Spring runoff and summer thunderstorms...From the Wikipedia article “Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:20 AM | 90° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 59° ENE | 8:46 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 55m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:32 AM | 120° ESE | 4:57 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 25m |
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
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:05 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 43m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:01 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:50 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:52 PM | 14h 19m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:30 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:13 PM | 14h 39m |
| August | 6:01 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:53 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:38 PM | 7:05 PM | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:31 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:31 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 26m |
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 Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:23 AM – 5:33 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:32 AM – 5:52 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:28 AM – 4:58 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:10 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:43 PM – 3:43 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:36 PM – 2:26 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:52 PM – 12:22 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:57 PM – 10:17 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:07 PM – 8:17 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.7 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ 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 36% 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 | 56 | 59 | 73 | 82 | 96 | 100 | 102 | 98 | 95 | 85 | 69 | 54 |
| Low °F | -11 | -13 | 2 | 17 | 21 | 33 | 44 | 43 | 30 | 6 | -5 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
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 wilderness area
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.
Suggested gear: Lightweight tripod, Spare batteries, Headlamp, Navigation. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drones may not take off from or land in federally designated wilderness, where mechanized equipment is prohibited under the Wilderness Act.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, closest first.
Natural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural Arch
CanyonNatural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Knowles Overlook Campground9.2 km (5.7 mi)
- Jouflas Campground11.1 km (6.9 mi)
- Rabbit Valley11.8 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- Westwater Campground (Ranger Station)14.9 km (9.2 mi) · reservable
- Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)15.0 km (9.3 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?
How far is Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness from Loma?
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.