Wahweap Sunrise
Near Big Water, UT
WAHWEAP SUNRISE
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WAHWEAP SUNRISE
The ghostly white Wahweap Hoodoos are some of the most fascinating hoodoos found anywhere in the American Southwest. This unique location was made famous by Michael Fatali's (known now as Light Hunter) masterpiece "Stone Temples," and it does not disappoint.
The location is sometimes also referred to as "Towers of Silence." Regardless of what it is called, this place is simply magical! Just witnessing this natural event is incredible - but being there when the first light hits the hoodoos and frames this glowing scene is almost unbelievable – leaving you wondering, "how did this happen."
Once again, the American Southwest provides some of the most beautiful nature scenes found anywhere.
This extraordinary place is delicate and fragile. I would ask that when you visit, please do your best to preserve all aspects of this location for future visitors and always try to leave it in better shape than when you found it.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Annual Subscription
Lifetime Membership
DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH WAHWEAP SUNRISE SUMMARY
The hike to the Wahweap Hoodoos is not hard, but it is a long walk (4.25 miles each - 9.5 round trip) in a river wash. I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 4 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). For the most part, the hike is level/flat but there are places where you are walking in sand or river stones, which can irritate your feet. And you are completely exposed for the entire hike - no shade, trees, or many places to rest. The walk takes about 2 to 2.5 hours each way.
I hiked it in mid-April, and the temperatures were modest but got warm on the return hike. I would NEVER recommend this hike during the SUMMER as the heat is extreme, and you would be putting yourself at risk.
Hiking the trail over two days (going up the afternoon before and returning the next morning) or hiking the up and back on the same day - are discussed below in "Equipment Needed"
The shot above is pretty straightforward. Find your composition, put your camera on a sturdy tripod, make sure your focus is correct - and be ready to shoot just after the sun crest the horizon to the east.
Before visiting the Wahweap Hoodoos, I thought I would need to exposure bracket and blend images to capture the contract between the bright hoodoos and the back wall. As it turned out - a single exposure was all that was needed. The light will change about …
In addition to the shot above, there are plenty of other photographic opportunities in and around the hoodoos. Having focal lengths ranging from 24-105 mm should provide adequate coverage.
The shot above was taken at 48mm.
4,298 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
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
