Photography Tips for Mesa Arch

How to get that bucket list photograph of the sun rising through Mesa Arch at Canyonlands National Park

The classic sunrise view through Mesa Arch

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky district leads a double life, one as a mild attraction to the average tourist to see, and another as a start attraction as a bucketlist photography event for thousands of amateur photographers.

Every morning, year-round it is descended upon by throngs of photographers in the dark early morning hours who will be trying to capture their own photograph of the sunrise framed artistically through the arch opening.

A typical morning at the arch

Mesa Arch is a pothole arch, getting its start as a small depression that water collected in and weathering over time created this amazing arch facing perfectly into the sunrise.

The canyon drops 1200 behind it and holds some interesting formations which you can capture in your shot using the arch like a giant picture window.

As a bonus, when the sun rises its golden rays will illuminate the underside of the arch adding to the drama and beauty.

Below the rim is Buckskin Canyon with the Colorado River meandering through it still eroding the sandstone as it has done for millions of years.

Through the arch to the left are some named rock formations, there is the Washer Woman, which looks like someone doing laundry over a wash tub. 300 feet to the right is Monster Tower and far behind them is the flat-topped Airport Tower formation.

The rock formations as seen through the arch

Photo Notes

Sunrise is the best time
Many times there are dozens and dozens of photographers at the arch, many arriving in the dark predawn hours to set up
There are often so many people with tripods set up you will have a hard time getting a prime spot
Scouting the location the day before and getting your spot figured out for the framing you want will help you on your shooting morning as you will be arriving in the dark
Bring a flashlight/headlamp
Tripod
Make sure your lenses are spotless to minimize flare from shooting directly at the sun
Check sunrise times online and arrive 30-60 minutes before the sun rises, but depending on the season, normally arriving 30 minutes ahead will give you fewer options on where to set up. Summer is the busiest time
Add 45-50 minutes if coming from Moab to allow for drive time
Hiking to the arch from the parking lot takes 10-15 minutes
If you arrive early enough with few people already there, don’t set up too far away from the arch, other photographers are going to be right up against the arch so your shots would be of them in the picture, and the chances of getting a pulled back shot are few and far between today due to the popularity of the location
There is really only room at the arch for about 25 photographers to get the best shots
Lens choice for the typical shot is plus or minus 24mm (35mm format)
This is a high dynamic range shot so learning about HDR and how to blend bracketed exposures can be helpful
Great images can be made year-round, but summer will be the most crowded with winter being the least

Distance

0.3-miles one way from parking lot to the arch

Route

The trail from the parking lot is a loop with each side being the same distance and taking you out to Mesa Arch. The left side of the loop does slightly less climbing than the right side of the loop.

Cost

$30/vehicle or $80 annual state park pass

Getting there

From Moab take US-191 11 miles north until you reach the left-hand turn to UT-313, continue for 14.6 miles to a junction with UT -313 goes to the left and continue to Dead Horse State Park, continue to Canyonlands National Park 12.9 miles on Grand View Point Road to the Mesa Arch Parking Lot on your left.

Parking ( 38.389211, -109.868125 )

Paved lot

There are photographs to be made prior to the sun coming up

The washer woman rock formation at sunrise at Mesa Arch

Don’t forget to wander around after you have gotten your pictures at the arch. To the right, a short distance are great views down into the canyon that can be enjoyed

Keep an eye out for other interesting subjects like this image of tracks in the sands in the early morning light.

Explore Nearby...

Hikes...

Moki Mesa

Hike to a hidden shelf above the Colorado river you get to using an old cattle trail blasted out of the canyon cliff face

Seven Mile Canyon (South Fork)

This is a rewarding hike due to the large amount of famous and interesting petroglyph and pictograph panels in the area.

Moab Maiden – Hike

The Moab Maiden is a single petroglyph pecked into a large single boulder on a ridge above Kane Springs Creek. There are other petroglyphs at the cliff face at the overlook, as well as the ruin of a granary and pithouse.

Courthouse Wash (Lower Canyon) – Hike

An easy hike that takes you from the bridge in Moab into Arches National Park through a low canyon with water

Mill Creek North Fork – Hike

A local swimming hole, with a waterfall, two arches, and an amazing amount of rock art

Seven Mile Canyon ( Lower ) – Hike

Explore a canyon that was part of the Spring/Fall Anasazi migration route, originating in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park to the La Sal Mountains. There are Barrier style rock art panels in the canyon.

Hidden Valley – Hike

Discover a hidden Valley “Behind the Rocks” in Moab, and hike a two-thousand-year-old path used by Native Americans, see many petroglyphs and two ruins

The Owl Panel – Hike

This short hike takes you to discover the Owl Panel which also has the big man, lots of sheep, and other petroglyphs.

Arches National Park...

U-Turn Canyon

Scramble up to a secret canyon in Arches National Park above Park Avenue

Sand Dune Arch

Sand Dune Arch is a family favorite, perfect for kids, it is a quick and easy stroll on a sandy easy-to-follow trail

Skyline Arch

Skyline Arch sits against the skyline at the top of a large red rock fin. A short and easy walk.

Tapestry Arch & Broken Arch

Hike to both Tapestry Arch and Broken Arch on a short out-and-back trail that leaves from the Devil’s Garden Camp Grounds

Guide for the Devil’s Garden

A special place walking through rock fins, towers and arches, see the famous Landscape Arch or hike the challenging Primitive Loop to see more remote sections of the Devil’s Garden

Windows section of arches national park 11

How to photograph Turret Arch through the North Window at sunrise

This guide will give you everything you need to know about how to photograph Turret Arch through the North Window arch in Arches National Park in Utah.

Tower Arch Hike

Rarely visited due to its location in the western part of Arches National Park, a great place to go if you want a quieter experience off the beaten path away from the crowds

Willow Springs Road

Willow Springs Road is a backdoor road into Arches National Park that avoids the toll gate, and reservation system

Park Avenue – hike

This is a fun and easy hike and is a great introduction to hiking in Arches National Park for beginners, the trail gets you quickly immersed among the high red rock features of what Utah and the park is all about.

Windows Section of Arches National Park

The Windows and Double Arch are the main attraction, but you can see The Parade of Elephants, Turret Arch, Cove Arch, Ribbon Arch, Elephant Butte, and the Cove of Caves also.

Canyonlands National Park - Island In The Sky District...

Canyonlands National Park – Island in the Sky District

The Island in the Sky district is one of the easiest and most popular districts of the park, the main attraction are the viewpoints and hiking the trails.

False Kiva – Hike

The site sits in an alcove and a stone circle. There are some handprints on the back of the wall of the alcove and some faint images that are hard to make out today.

Photography Tips for Mesa Arch

Every sunrise, Mesa Arch is descended upon by masses of photographers trying to capture their own early morning sunrise framed through the arch.

Canyonlands National Park - Needles District...

Guide for hiking Davis Canyon

Davis Canyon contains arches, granaries, ruins of cliff dwellings, and rock art including the amazing five faces pictograph

Dinosaur Tracks...

Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway

A short hike to see where an Allosaurus and a Brontosaurus dinosaur walked and left their footprints over 160 million years ago

Klondike Bluffs Dinosaur Track – Hike

The tracks in this area are predominantly those of carnivorous dinosaurs called allosaurus, which were probably on the hunt for other animals that would come to what was once a large body of water.

Dinosaur Stomping Grounds – Hike

Enjoy a short hike to a “mega track site” that is covered with over 2000 dinosaur tracks left on a 160 million years old mud flat.

Scenic Drives...

Guide to the Potash Road Rock Art Sites

Just a few minutes from downtown Moab, on the Potash road running along the Colorado River is the opportunity to see a half dozen sites that hold hundreds of petroglyphs and even some dinosaur foot prints

La Sal Mountain Loop

The 60-mile route follows the Colorado River, and climbs into the La Sal Mountains via Castle Valley, it offers great views of the peaks and the red rock canyons far below.

Onion Creek & Narrows Hike & Scenic Drive

A scenic drive into beautiful Onion Creek Canyon just south of the Fisher Towers with many stream crossings and a fun optional hike in a narrow canyon

Highway 128 Rock Art

An easy quick stop along scenic byway 128 if coming or going from Cisco to Moab. A large boulder with about 50 petroglyphs sits above the highway.

Potash Road / Shafer Trail

The scenic drive – Utah Scenic Byway 279, takes the back roads and runs from Moab to Canyon Lands National Park along the Colorado River

Anticline Overlook

Rarely visited by most travelers but is worth the effort. The view is overlooking Deadhorse state park and Canyonlands National Park Islands in the Sky district, to the north, looking over Hurrah Pass and the Kane Creek.