Best Sunrise Photo Spots in Utah National Parks

Utah’s National Parks are some of the most beautiful places on earth. With breathtaking landscapes, Utah National Parks provide an ideal backdrop for photographers to capture stunning sunrise photos!

Use this guide full of photo tips, best sunrise photo spots, and the camera gear you’ll need to take pictures at Utah National Parks!

Camera Gear for Landscape Photography

• Tripod: take a look at these compact and lightweight travel tripods!
• Camera Bag: protect your camera from sand and water → We use Lowepro camera backpacks for outdoor photography.
• Neutral density filter: to compensate for variance of light you’ll need to use a neutral density filter. → Check out the Kase magnetic filters we use!
• Camera cleaning kit: remove dust or water that WILL get on your lens. NOTE: this is not for cleaning the sensor.  
• Memory cards: purchase name brand memory cards since you’re trusting your images to the card! → We use Lexar and Sandisk!
• External hard drive: copy photos to a portable external hard drive ‘just in case’. 
• Headlamp: use when taking sunrise and sunset photos!

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A Photo Tour of Utah National Parks

Take a visual tour through all five Utah National Parks to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!

Tips for Taking Utah National Parks Sunrise Photos

Here are a few sunrise photography tips to help you capture amazing images at Utah National Parks:

1. Take advantage of the compositions provided by moving to different viewpoints of the formations.  
2. Use a sturdy tripod to maximize clarity and sharpness, and to expand creative possibilities.

Settings:

1. From a tripod: ISO 100, Aperture F/11 – F/13, adjust shutter speed to accommodate changing light conditions. 
2. Handheld: set shutter speed to twice the value of your lens focal length (ex. Lens focal length of 24mm = 1/50 shutter speed). Aperture F/11 – F/13, adjust ISO to accommodate shutter speed.
3. Expose for the bright sunlit areas.

Best Sunrise Photo Spots in Utah National Parks

Here’s a list of the best places to photograph sunrise at all five Utah National Parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion!

So grab your camera and take a look at some of our favorite sunrise photo spots in Utah’s National Parks!

Arches National Park Sunrise Photo Spots

Keep in mind the best sunrise photography at Arches happens when the stone structures glow from the golden hour light.

Here’s a handy Arches National Park photo spots map to use to navigate to each location.

Click the link to get the full list of Arches National Park sunrise tips and photo spots:

• Turret Arch
• Double Arch
• La Sal Viewpoint
• Balanced Rock
• Delicate Arch

Be sure to grab your free Arches Photo Spots Checklist to download, print, and take with you to the park!

Bryce Canyon National Park Sunrise Photo Spots

Bryce Canyon sunrise photography is spectacular! The golden light in the morning makes the hoodoos glow creating fantastic images!

Use this map of Bryce Canyon photo spots to navigate through the park to each location!

Click the link to get the full list of Bryce Canyon sunrise tips and photo spots:

• Bryce Point
• Sunset Point
• Thor’s Hammer – Navajo Trail
• Sunrise Point
• Inspiration Point
• Rainbow Point
• Rim Overlook Trail

Be sure to grab your free Bryce Canyon Photo Spots Checklist to download, print, and take with you to the park!

Canyonlands National Park Sunrise Photo Spots

We focus our photography at Canyonlands Island in the Sky because it’s the most accessible and offers fantastic, panoramic views of the park along the scenic drive.

Take a look at the Canyonlands Island in the Sky photo map with the pinned photography locations so you can navigate to each spot in the park.

Click the link to get the full list of Canyonlands sunrise tips and photo spots:

• Grand View Point
• Mesa Arch
• Green River Overlook
• Buck Canyon Overlook
• Shafer Trail Overlook

Capitol Reef National Park Sunrise Photo Spots

There is ONE spot we always go for sunrise at Capitol Reef: Panorama Point! You’ll capture the sun crossing the horizon from this location that’s just stunning!

It’s also a good spot to photograph a variety of Capitol Reef landscape photos during the golden hour light!

Use this map of Capitol Reef photo spots to navigate through the park from location to location.

Click the link to get the full list of Capitol Reef National Park photography spots!

• Panorama Point
• Sunset Point
• Fruita Barn
• Grand Wash
• Capitol Gorge
• Eph Hanks Tower

Zion National Park Sunrise Photo Spots

If your Zion vacation is in the spring, summer or fall when the Zion National Park shuttle is running, you’ll have limited access to sunrise and sunset photography at the locations in Zion Canyon.

Reference the Zion photos spots Google Map with the pinned locations to plan your sunrise photograph schedule.

Click the link to get the full list of Zion National Park sunrise tips and photo spots:

• Towers of the Virgin / Zion Human History Museum
• Canyon Overlook
• Mt. Carmel Road Switchbacks
• Three Patriarchs

Be sure to grab your free Zion Photo Spots Checklist to download, print, and take with you to the park!

Utah Travel Guides & Maps

Travel Guides for Utah National Parks

Check out our Utah National Park travel guides that detail the best things to see, do and photograph at all 5 parks!

• Arches National Park Travel Guide
• Bryce Canyon Travel Guide
• Canyonlands National Park Guide
• Capitol Reef National Park Guide
• Zion National Park Travel Guide