Our Mesa Arch Sunrise Photography Experience

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Photo of a starburst of the sun on a distant horizon above a deep and open valley covered in shadow at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park during sunrise

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park is one of the most striking sunrise photo spots we’ve ever seen. And we’ve done our fair share of travel photography since we started this travel blog in 2018, so we have the reference points. What we like most is that it’s one single frame and it’s easy to capture. So it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a pro photographer, this is a unique photo spot for everyone.

In this guide we explain everything you need to know about photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

A couple standing together on a rocky surface with a large natural rock formation behind
This was us at the formation once the sun had risen and everyone had left

We’d just spent a full day hiking in Arches and got to bed late, so it was painful setting an early alarm to get from Moab to Canyonlands in time for sunrise at Mesa Arch. We hit the road early, arrived at the parking lot in the dark, hiked the short trail with headlamps and made it to the arch way in time for nautical twilight.

And guess what? We weren’t the first to arrive! Sure, we knew it was going to be busy even in November (it was actually Mark’s birthday) but we were surprised to see another group already on site that early. Soon after we set up the whole place was buzzing with people, tripods, cameras and lots of hot coffee to fight the chill. The sunrise? Well, it turned out to be remarkable. Read more about us.

READ: Our favorite photo spots in the US

Preparation The Night Before

Line of photographers with cameras and tripods crouched or stood on a rocky surface looking at the sun rising
Here’s the line of photographers we shared the sunrise with (Mark is in the red coat)

Let’s get right into it! Here’s what we did the night before the sunrise to make sure we were prepared to leave on time with everything we needed:

  • Charge and pack a headlamp for each of us.
  • Fully charge our smartphones for a backup light source.
  • Charge camera batteries with at least one in reserve.
  • Empty or clear enough space on SD cards.
  • Clean camera, lenses and tripod.
  • Look at images, blogs and forums to know what to expect.
  • Check Moab weather reports to know what to wear and pack.
  • Pack water, snacks and breakfast.
  • Find a place to get a hot coffee in the morning.

But the most important thing we did the night before was check sunrise times for Moab. We wanted to arrive at the arch (not the parking lot) by the beginning of nautical twilight so we’d definitely get a space in front of the arch, have plenty time to set up our gear and relax.

 

Our Sunrise Walkthrough

Photo of Mesa Arch in Canyonlands before sunrise with deep yellows in the sky beginning and the valley below covered in shadow
Here’s the view we had through the formation around 10 minutes before the sun appeared

Okay, here’s exactly what we did the morning we watched sunrise at Mesa Arch:

Early Alarm

Nautical twilight the next morning was at 6:04am, so we worked backwards. The hike is very short and only takes around 10 minutes. But according to Google Maps, the drive from Canyonlands to Mesa Arch Trailhead is 48 minutes. And we needed to wake up, shower, get out of our hotel and pick up a coffee. Plus, we might need a bit of fudge time. So our alarm went off at 4:30am. Happy birthday, Mark!

Leave Moab

We left bang on half four in the morning with steaming hot coffees from our hotel lobby. It was pitch black in rural Utah but we drove the whole way with our high beams on and we didn’t see a single other car on the road. The entrance station at Canyonlands was completely empty, but we still displayed our America the Beautiful Pass on the dash.

Park At The Trailhead

We eventually arrived at the trailhead and noticed one other car, along with a camper conversion already parked in the lot. Smart. Knowing that we wouldn’t have any issues getting a space in front of the arch helped us to relax, but we were too excited to wait so we just got on with the hike.

Hike To Mesa Arch

We knew it was a short walk to reach the arch, but we didn’t realize it would be that easy. It really was a lightning quick and super simple 0.3 mile walk. Within what felt like seconds we’d already reached the formation which was silhouetted against the gently glowing sky at nautical twilight.

Photo of a striking sunrise on a distant horizon behind a wide open and deep valley, as well as an eye shaped natural window formed at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park
Here’s what happens when the sun finally appears on the horizon

Set Up

We said hello to the only other group there, exchanged stories about waking up early and thinking we’d struggle to get a space, then set up our old tripod and camera. It was nice to be able to set up where we wanted because not long after there were lots of frustrated photographers arriving without being able to get into a position they wanted.

Wait For Sunrise

And that was us set up, now it was a waiting game. More people turned up and were annoyed about not getting a prime spot in front of the arch. It sounds harsh, but the truth is they only had themselves to blame for not arriving earlier. We took a bunch of photos throughout nautical twilight and civil twilight but everyone was just waiting for the moment the sun burst out from the distant horizon.

Shoot The Sunrise

And when the sun finally did show itself, the whole place burst into life with a magical aura. Camera shutters were going off like the clappers and there was a collective wow moment. Even the hikers who turned up without cameras were saying they wished they had a camera. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

Explore Canyonlands

Most people quickly thinned out after the sunrise, but we stayed at Mesa Arch for another 30 minutes or so just to see if anything else would happen with colors in the sky. We chatted to others who stayed for a while, then finished the loop and drove to see other views like Green River Overlook and Grand View Point. We were in Canyonlands, after all!

Mesa Arch Sunrise Photography Tips

Lots of people with cameras and phones taking images of a natural rock formation at dawn
Kristen took this photo of the photographers and hikers who turned up the same morning as us

Depending on the time of year you visit, there could be anywhere between 5-30 people vying for the prime positions in front of Mesa Arch. But we’d say there are probably only 5 or 6 spots you actually want to set up for the best frame, so arriving early is crucial. If you follow a similar timeline as we did, you should be among the first to arrive.

Here are our top tips:

  • Don’t set up too far away from the arch or you’ll have to move closer.
  • Pro’s will have top spec wide angle lenses and they’ll want to get close.
  • Don’t worry if you have beginner equipment, you deserve to be there as much as anyone else.
  • Ask others for help with your frame or settings so you can take the best possible photos.
  • Take a lot of photos throughout each stage of the sunrise.
  • Use a wide angle lens so you can capture more of the arch.
  • You do not need a telephoto lens.
  • Keep your ISO low to avoid grainy images.
  • You must use a tripod for long exposures before the sun rises.
  • The sun rises more northeast spring to fall and more southeast fall to spring.

We loved this photo spot but our big regret was doing it with our older camera gear before we really knew what we were doing. Since then we’ve upgraded all our gear and improved our photography skills exponentially (here’s our travel photography gallery), so we really must get back and do it again soon.

The Morgan Conclusion

Couple sat next to each other on a rocky shelf with a natural window shaped rock formation behind
Here we are enjoying having it all to ourselves once the photographers cleared out

What we liked: Mesa Arch is honestly one of the most amazing sunrises we’ve ever seen. The east facing view is magnificent and the arch is such a unique foreground subject. Also, parking isn’t a problem at dawn and the hike is so easy.

What we didn’t like: It’s a very early start! But the major downside is that there’s not enough space for photographers on busier mornings. It would be a shame to make the effort and not be able to set up in front of the arch. We had it a little bit with some pretty upset people arriving late, but we imagine it would be much worse in warmer months.

Is Mesa Arch worth it at sunrise? Yes! The sunrise at Mesa Arch is among the most striking in the US. We know it’s a lot of effort, but trust us it’s worth it. Just make sure you arrive in good time to get one of the coveted spaces for tripods. Once you’re on site, relax and enjoy the unique scene unfold.

More From Utah

Want more Utah content? Head over to our Utah Travel Guides to explore the mighty five national parks and beyond.


We hope our Mesa Arch sunrise photography guide helps with planning your visit to Utah!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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8 thoughts on “Our Mesa Arch Sunrise Photography Experience”

  1. Hi,
    I was just wondering where that ledge photo is taken with what I think is Shafer Trail in the background, the person standing on the ledge looking onward…
    I will be traveling out there soon and would like to do something similar
    Thank you

    Reply
  2. Thank you so much! This post is supremely helpful. We’ll be visiting in a couple of weeks, so basically the same as your mid-November timeframe. Just curious though, were you there on a weekday or weekend?

    Reply
    • Hey Paulo! Thank you for getting in touch and we’re glad this post was able to help you plan your visit to Mesa Arch. We visited on a Tuesday (19th November 2019) and were second to arrive, but it quickly filled up. You should be able to follow our timeline pretty closely for sunrise but definitely check the weather forecasts if you have a few days in Moab to pick the morning with the clearest outlook. If you need any more info please let us know, otherwise have a great trip and enjoy the amazing sunrise!

      Reply
      • Oh it appears our timelines match up almost exactly lol. I was hoping for some good luck being a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, but I guess there will be many people there regardless. Thanks again.

        Reply
        • Yeah it’s a very popular photography location for pros and hobbyists but you might strike lucky on a quieter than usual day – especially this year with lockdowns. After you’re done at Mesa Arch, the sunset (and stargazing) at Delicate Arch over at Arches is awesome. Have a good one!

          Reply
    • Thank you Graham. Mesa Arch has to be one of the best sunrise locations we’ve been fortunate enough to see so far. It wasn’t easy getting up at 4am but it was worth the effort. We will go back and do it again with upgraded equipment to get even better photographs next time we’re in Utah.

      Reply

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