• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Good Hearted Woman logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Cooking Basics
    • Condiments
    • German Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Sourdough
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • 30-Minute Meals
  • Cozy Living
    • Arts & Crafts
    • For Music Lovers
    • Food Holidays
  • US Travel
    • One Day in...
    • Pacific
    • Rocky Mountains
    • Southwest
    • The South
    • Hikes Near & Far
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cozy Living
  • Road Trips
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cozy Living
    • Road Trips
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Travel » Utah

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise (Canyonlands NP)

    November 8, 2018 • Updated: July 28, 2021 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Mesa Arch at Canyonlands - Sunrise Photography Tips {Moab, Utah}. Everything you need to know to capture that iconic sunrise shot! | The Good Hearted Woman #nationalparks #travel #photographytips #travelphotography

    Photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park is iconically one of the best photo ops in the American Southwest. Here's what you need to know to capture that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite.

    Full disclosure: Before we arrived on the scene, I had no idea that photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was such a big deal. Our photog-daughter, who organized our trip, simply told us that we were going to a really cool place to take sunrise pictures. (I fell in love with sunrise photography while taking a class on the subject while visiting Oahu a few years back.)

    Since Livy had been to this location a number of times before, I didn't do my routine pre-trip research. Luckily, it all worked out great and I'm excited to share our adventure and tips for photographing Mesa Arch with you. But before I do that, I want to share a little story.

    (Click here to scroll down if stories aren't your thing.)

    Photography Lesson: The Shot of a Lifetime

    We arrived at the parking lot at the Mesa Arch Trailhead about an hour before the first hint of sunrise shrugged up the horizon.

    Mr B and I made the short hike to Mesa Arch in about eight minutes. Our (mostly adult) kids were way ahead of us, and as we arrived, we found them momentary stopping under the arch for the requisite selfie.

    As we maneuvered the uneven ground between the trail access and the arch to meet them, I passed an older man (older than me, at least) who was visibly agitated. His ire seemed to be directed at our kids, and I had no idea why.

    “Get outta there!” he shouted at them, waving a hand in the air like an umpire calling out a batter. They were already moving away from the arch before he called out.

    “Damn kids, trying to ruin my shot,” he muttered to me, by way of explanation. He had no way of know they were with us.

    I should have just let it go, but I couldn’t help myself. “They’re really good kids,” I said quietly as we passed. (Sometimes I cannot make my inner mama bear shut up no matter how hard I try.)

    He paused and looked back, face pursed, “They were going to ruin my shot.”

    “Seems they were just catching the moment,” I replied, nodding toward the now empty Arch.

    As I passed him, a young woman joined him on the trail. I overheard him say to her, “Damn kids were going to ruin my..."

    “Dad…” she interrupted, using the same tender tone I once used with my own aging father in times of frustration.

    “But I’ve been waiting a lifetime to take this shot.” I heard his voice break ever so slightly.

    “I know, Dad.” She patted his shoulder, and his face softened. Together they went to set up before the inevitable crowd arrived.

    We spent the next hour watching the crowd gather and set up. I kept an eye and ear on the old man, who seemed to snap to life when the camera equipment emerged. I watched him carefully set up his tripod, and adjust it so that he had a prime, unobstructed shot right through the arch. I watched him lean in to his daughter as they considered the optimal angles and adjusted their camera settings. By the time the haze on the mountains started glowing, he had every detail plotted out.

    I was surprised when, as the sun began to rise over the mesa and light the La Sal mountain range beyond the arch, the old man motioned me over.

    “You should shoot through right here,” he instructed. And then he stepped aside to share his carefully selected space with me. “See,” he pointed, “you can get a perfect shot of the cones rising up from the mesa right here.”

    “You know,” he said, his eyes intent on the glowing skyline. “I’ve been waiting a lifetime to get this shot.”

    I nodded, grateful for the lesson.

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Things to Do in Moab Utah • Travel Tips & Information from GHW

    We loved our vacation in Moab! As Oregonians, deserts aren't often high on our list of destinations, but we were blown away by the other-worldly beauty of the Utah desert!

    If you're traveling to Moab, be sure to check out these posts, too:

    • 7 Stunning Reasons to Visit Arches National Park
    • How to Survive on the Delicate Arch Trail (Totally worth it!)

    Wavy Line

    Photography Tips: Sunrise at Mesa Arch {Canyonlands National Park}

    As I learned on our trip, Mesa Arch at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park is iconically one of the best photo ops in the American Southwest. Here's what you need to know to capture that once-in-a-lifetime shot. 

    Arrive Early

    Set your alarm so that you can arrive at the trailhead at least an hour before sunrise. This will allow you to catch the first glow on the horizon. It also gives you plenty of time to adjust your camera settings, and figure out where you want to be when that much-anticipated sunstar pops through the arch.

    Note that the trail into Mesa Arch, which will take you about ten minutes, is very dark before sunrise, so take something to light your way. A headlamp or flashlight are both good choices. (Sure, you can use your phone, but don't blame me if you run out of juice in the process.)

    Stake Your Claim, But Be Flexible

    Crowds are inevitable. Arriving early will help you get ahead of them and allow you to find "your spot." However, be flexible; if you manage to secure a prime location, be compassionate to those who didn't. (Karma, my friends.)

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Take a Tripod 

    A tripod is helpful for photographing Mesa Arch in two ways: first, it allows you to stabilize your camera in the low light conditions and take awesome pictures. Second, it helps you stake your claim.

    There is something magical about a tripod placed. I can't offer any guarantees here, but for the most part, people seem to respect the space a tripod takes up and won't move it, even if you aren't hovering over it every second. With your tripod securing your little square of Mesa Arch real estate, you can move around a bit without feeling like someone is going to "steal your spot."

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Change Up Your Space

    If you watch the light when you are photographing Mesa Arch, it's difficult to take a bad picture. Doing so, however, will require you to move occasionally.

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Look Around

    There are so many amazing shots at this location, and many do not include the Arch at all. If I had only been paying attention to the Arch itself, I would have missed this one entirely:

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    And this one.

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    And this one. (Those are two of our kids in profile on the left.)

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Stay Late

    If you don’t heed any other information here, do this.

    The biggest surprise I got while photographing Mesa Arch was the number of people who snapped the money-shot – that sunstar coming through the arch – and then immediately packed up and left. It's literally like watching the first pop of fireworks on the 4th of July and leaving before the rest of the show.

    Why would you take all the time and effort to get up early and drive out into the desert, just to snap one or two good shots and walk away? I don’t get it.

    My best advice: stay at least 45 minutes after you see that sunstar.

    Be Alert

    It just so happened that our visit to Canyonlands fell on the morning of July 4th. Just as we were heading back on the trail to return to our car, I turned back one last time to take in larger scene behind us.

    At that moment, someone standing on the rise next to the Arch rose up and stretched out, revealing the American flag they'd had wrapped around them. They then turned and hopped down to join their friends on the ground below.

    The whole movement took less than five seconds, but somehow I managed to capture it. The image is below, and is one of my favorites from this trip.

    Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know | The Good Hearted Woman

    Finally, Put the Camera Down

    There are two maxims I strive daily to follow. (I’m not always successful, but I try.) The first is, Be Kind. The second, Be Present. That means putting everything down and just being there in the place with the people.

    Take some time to put your camera down, and take in the spectacular show the universe is putting on for you.

    Wavy Line

    More information on photographing Mesa Arch:

    • Mesa Arch Photo Tips [Fototripper] - This post has some good technical info, including recommended equipment and panorama tips.
    • Mesa Arch Sunrise Photography Tips for Boomer Travelers [My Itchy Travel Feet]
    • Mesa Arch: The Southwest's Best Photo Op? [Firefall Photography] - Great info on camera settings.

    Wavy Line

    THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
    of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

    Canyonlands Sunrise Photography Tips {Moab, Utah} | The Good Hearted Woman    Mesa Arch at Canyonlands - Sunrise Photography Tips {Moab, Utah}. Everything you need to know to capture that iconic sunrise shot! | The Good Hearted Woman #nationalparks #travel #photographytips #travelphotography Wavy Line

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

    More Utah Travel

    • How to Survive on the Delicate Arch Trail
    • 7 Stunning Reasons to Visit Arches National Park
    348 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays says

      November 14, 2018 at 10:37 am

      Stunning and top tips. We once stumbled across moonrise in Yosemite, truly one of life’s magical moments.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 14, 2018 at 11:41 am

        Moonrise at Yosemite would be amazing! I haven't been there in years.

        Reply
    2. janet says

      November 12, 2018 at 9:28 am

      We visited this area in 2016. Despite our pre-research we still weren't fully prepared for this wonderful region. I love your story, because I too encountered several life-lessons hiking and photographing these parks. It is on our list to return soon,

      Reply
    3. Karen says

      November 11, 2018 at 11:00 pm

      We are planning a trip to US and Canada in 2020 for a year and this just has to be on the list as a keen photographer. Thanks for sharing the story. kx

      Reply
    4. Sondra Barker says

      November 09, 2018 at 7:26 pm

      Looks like a fun trip, so adventurous! Utah looks so scenic and beautiful, I want to go!

      Reply
    5. Whitney says

      November 09, 2018 at 4:53 pm

      Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I've never been to Utah before, but I can see why people say it's a beautiful state!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 10, 2018 at 1:28 pm

        Thank you so much! Utah has a unique beauty all its own.

        Reply
    6. Christa says

      November 09, 2018 at 10:17 am

      What stunning photos! I love when a picture captures not only something beautiful to see but a beautiful memory, too. Utah is such an amazing state. I love taking long weekends there.

      Reply
    7. Molly Burton says

      November 09, 2018 at 9:41 am

      This place looks gorgeous! And your photos are absolutely stunning. I would love to experience this!

      Molly // Miss Molly Moon

      Reply
    8. Luci says

      November 08, 2018 at 9:55 pm

      Really beautiful photography. I haven't heard of this place before, seeing these pictures makes me want to go.

      Reply
    9. Heather says

      November 08, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Oh it looks so pretty! I have found myself frustrated before when trying to get the perfect shot and something or someone gets in the way of that. But like you said, get there early, be prepared, be aware, and YES be flexible! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos!

      Reply
    10. Denay DeGuzman says

      November 08, 2018 at 3:10 pm

      What a beautiful serene location. My grandmother was from Utah and I enjoyed all of my trips there. Thank you for awaking my spirit of wanderlust with this lovely post.

      Reply
    11. Aaron Edwards says

      November 08, 2018 at 2:25 pm

      Wow. That was a beautiful read and quite the journey. This makes me want to go see this arch myself.

      Reply
    12. Larissa says

      November 08, 2018 at 1:02 pm

      What a truly captivating post! I was so intrigued at the beginning of the post about the lesson you learned, and I'm thankful I continued reading. Your writing made it seem like I was there, experiencing the entire situation with you. And I love how both parties [you and the older man] were able to see that no one was trying to be malicious and be kind about the whole matter. Also, beautiful pictures!

      Reply
    13. Sami | The Classic Brunette says

      November 08, 2018 at 11:33 am

      Wow this place is absolutely stunning! Your photos turned out beautiful!

      xo
      Sami
      The Classic Brunette

      Reply
    14. Alice Mola says

      November 08, 2018 at 10:35 am

      The way you write is moving, I love that these moments are like a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        November 08, 2018 at 11:02 am

        Thank you so much for the kind words. Alice.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Adorable middle-aged couple in forest setting. (i.e., Me & Mr B)

    Join me & Mr B for the best in home cooking and cozy living - from the beautiful Pacific Northwest and beyond.

    More about us →

    Follow Us

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    fresh recipes

    • Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
    • Classic Hot Buttered Rum
    • Cinnamon Roll Wreath (Danish Pastry Ring)
    • Orange Tea Ring (Danish Wreath)
    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Orange Spiced Cranberry Sauce

    game day eats

    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters (Easy Air Fryer Recipe)
    • 20 Best Game Day Food Ideas
    • Sweet & Spicy Grilled Buffalo Wings
    • Cool Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip
    • Roasted Garlic Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Statement
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Meet Me & Mr B

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Good Hearted Woman. All rights reserved.

    348 shares
    348 shares
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}