Marlboro Point
Near Moab, UT
Marlboro Point
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF MARLBORO POINT
Marlboro Point is one of the iconic vistas in the American Southwest. This wonderful place can be photographed at either sunrise or sunset. And when it snows, it transforms into one of the most beautiful places anywhere. Standing on the cliffs overseeing this fantastic scene, you find yourself wondering - How Did This Happen?
An old college buddy used to say, "I would rather be lucky than good." Being at this magical place, on this particular day - I would agree. Trips to this location are not easy, and being here at sunrise following a perfect dusting of snow was just plain lucky.
A little story to remind you that this location is in the middle of nowhere - a good friend recently visited Marlboro Point on a morning just like what you see above. It had snowed 3 - 4" the night before, and he wanted to get a shot with snow in the canyon. He was alone and didn't have a 4x4 vehicle, so he had to walk 2+ miles at 5 am (in pitch darkness) to get there for sunrise. After sunrise, another couple showed up to witness the beautiful scene. After chatting a bit, they asked where his dog was as they saw large paw tracks in the snow following him all the way to Marlboro Point.
My friend was stunned and silent for a moment - and then let the couple know that he didn't have a dog!
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH MARLBORO POINT SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 4 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult).
It is not an easy location to get to and is not for everyone. The hike can be either short or long, depending on your vehicle and off-road abilities.
The road(s) to Marlboro Point start out simple and progressively get more difficult as you get closer to the lookout. Ultimately, the road can get you to within 50 yards of the overlook. However, the last mile is high clearance 4 x 4 vehicle …
This is not a location to just walk up and take a picture. This majestic place offers so many different ways to capture the scene. You will want to arrive early to walk around and study the different angles and compositions. I have visited Marlboro Point at sunrise and sunset, and both offer great composition opportunities.
For sunrise - I prefer to shoot during the blue hour (10 - 30 minutes before sunrise). This time provides a pastel scene with the sun's reflective light painting the monuments.
Also, just after sunrise, as the first light illuminates the back canyon walls …
You can shoot this fantastic location in many different ways. Consider bringing lenses ranging from 16mm to 105mm. I shot the image above with a 17mm equivalent lens.
5,867 ft Elevation
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KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
