Reflection Canyon became known following the April 2006 National Geographic article "Glen Canyon Revealed" featuring a photo of the Reflection Canyon by Michael Melford and by Apple’s use of the image in their June 2012 promotion of the Mac Book Pro high resolution retina display.

Facing into a Southernly direction, Reflection Canyon is characterized by steep high canyon walls of slick stone with white and red strata covered with dripping vertical lines of varnish that frames the deep blue water flowing in a serpentine channel that leads the viewer from spurs and islands into the Glen Canyon Reservoir. Photographers electing to embrace the challenges to capture this remarkable landscape will also be rewarded with exceptional other outstanding landscapes that highlight the growing popularity of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, such as: Calf Creek Falls, Coyote Gulch, Devil’s Garden, Golden Cathedral, Peek-a-boo Canyon, Spooky Gulch to name a few.

Location summary written with the assistance of Mark Asbury.

Trail Difficulty - EXTREME

There are two options to get to the Reflection Canyon: (1) Land Approach that entails traveling down BLM200/Hole in the Wall Road followed by a 16-18 round trip hike or (2) a Water Approach. Depending on your approach and physical conditioning will determine the hiking rating from difficult to hard.

Land Approach is best accomplished using a four-wheel drive vehicle to access this remote section in the Grand Escalante Staircase National Monument leaving Utah Highway 12 on an unmaintained and unpaved route down Hole in the Rock Road. Airing down your tires make this washboard road a bit more tolerable. Remember to check weather and road conditions before you head out; storms and rainfall can wash out portions of the. If the conditions allow, you’ll drive around 50 miles down this road at a slow 20 mph to enter the Glen Canyon territory in the last 5 miles of the trip. What YouTube video “Hole In The Rock Road”.

GPS Coordinates & Elevation

37°11'15.72"N, 110°55'8.54"W - Reflection Canyon

37°15'07.7"N 110°58'24.9"W - Trailhead to Reflection Canyon

3,940 Ft. Elevation

Download KMZ Trail File

Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.

Photography Tips

Boaters entering the canyon and lingering. Campers and their campsites potentially interfering and adding light pollution at night. Remember, that it can get very windy without notice and amplified if it is coming in from the canyon.

Directions

CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Reflection Canyon Trailhead

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You can easily overshoot this turnout. If so, there is another forest road about 200 yards past the location of the shot on your right (north side). It is easy to turn around at get back to the correct location.

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Google Earth

EXIF Data

Focal Length – mm
Exposure – th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – xxx
Time – xxx

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Best Time of Day to Shoot

Morning golden hour offers the sun peaking over the Eastern canyon walls, but will cast shadows in the canyon requiring at least a stacked blending of the sunrise and shadows exposure. PhotoPills and the Photographers Ephemeris 3D will allow you to estimate shadow impact. Just after golden hour, when the sun light illuminates most of the Western canyon walls, also bounces light onto the Eastern canyon walls offers a sweet detail shot. Late in the day and evening golden hour isn't advisable due to the sun getting blocked by that Western ridge line used to guide your hike to this canyon.

Best Time of Year

April offers the lowest water level and a Milky Way arcing over the canyon. If the Milky Way isn’t a necessity, then March to May and September to October are the best times to hike while the temperature range is more tolerable. Rain can impact the road in a big way and is a key factor for trip planning in this area. Lake pool height is critical for the adding of colorful canyon strata into the photo. Pool height should not be over 3600 feet. Use this URL (http://graphs.water-data.com/lakepowell/) to find the pool height. Early November offers the most dramatic sunrise nearest the Southern inlet to the canyon. Astro/night photos are spectacular with the Milky Way's galactic center actually viewable over the canyon island during April and the first week in May.

Lens(es) Needed

Wide angle prime and zoom lens. Use PhotoPills to confirm your focal length requirement to capture both canyon walls. A 10mm to 18mm fast rectilinear full frame lens is advised for astrophotography.

Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro

Permits

It is advised to pick up a free backcountry camping permit from the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante, UT and check on the condition of Hole In The Rock Road, if you plan to hike in from the Trail Head.

Direction of the Shot

The direction of the shot is southwest are around 110°.

Click here to take you to The Photographer's Ephemeris for this location. The Photographer's Ephemeris is a very valuable tool for landscape photographers to determine the direction of the sunrise/sunset & moonrise/moonset from any place on earth on any day (past and future).

Equipment Needed

Other than a sturdy tripod that is a necessity for greater photographic options, ND and polarizer filters offer imaging flexibility. It is highly recommended to bring into this area a satellite communicator, like a Garmin Inreach. Shoes with great grip on slick rock. Hikers should bring first aid items for blisters, detached toenails, and muscle exhaustion.

Number of Other Photographers to Expect

Weekends during fall and spring months increase the number of hikers. Weekdays are best, when hiking groups decrease. There are only a few of the fairly flat areas along the ledge with a view into the canyon, which also are the prime photo spots.

Weather

Current Weather

This is an arid exposed area in southern Utah where the elevation is 3,940 feet. Slick rock reflect the light and radiates the heat often making it feel hotter than the actual temperature.

Cell Service

AT&T shows 4G LTE for most of the route with a signal loss most of the last 10 miles, but signal coverage returns as you approach the lake.

Verizon shows 4G LTE for most of the route with a signal loss as you approach the trailhead that continues to the canyon.

Lodging & Camping

Nearby Restaurants

Area Guides and Workshops

None

Other Resources

Escalante Interagency Visitor Center is a must visit before you head down Hole in the Rock road

Airing Down and Back Up the Right Way is an excellent resource to understand how to air down tires for different terrains.

YouTube Videos on Reflection Canyon

YouTube Videos referencing Hole in the Rock Road

Escalante Outfitters offer lodging, food, tours, and is a source for last minute recreational gear

Cottam's Phillips 66 at 80 E Main St, Escalante, UT 84726 is the only location in Escalante offering car wash capabilities