The Heavens Opened
The Heavens Opened
Grand Canon NP, AZ
Image by Rob Strain @ www.robstrain.com
Images and location summary by Rob Strain.
Trail Difficulty - EASY
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
Photography Tips
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Moran Point.
Cameron, AZ, and the Grand Canyon Village are the closest communities to this location.
From Cameron, AZ – drive south on US89 for 1.4 miles until you reach a traffic circle (look for signs for South Rim Grand Canyon). At the circle, drive west on AZ-64/Desert View Dr. for 30 miles until you reach the East entrance to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After passing through the EAST Entrance, drive for about .3 of a mile and turn into DESERT VIEW. The trail to this location starts from the RV/Oversize parking lot.
From Grand Canyon Village – take AZ64/Desert View Dr. for 22.5 miles and take the turnoff to DESERT VIEW. The trail to this location starts from the RV/Oversize parking lot.
The shot above was taken about 100 yards west of the Desert View RV parking lot (not the standard car parking lot). From the Desert View RV/Oversize parking lot, walk west, and you will see several trails. Follow the trail to the rim and find the best composition.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – mm
Exposure – th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – xxx
Time – xxx
Best Time of Day to Shoot
I have found most good afternoon/sunset shots during monsoon season are facing west to northwest. From this location, you will be shooting west about 10 - 15°.
Best Time of Year
The location can be photographed any time of year. As mentioned above, the time of year will dictate the angle of the sun at sunrise and sunset.
During the winter the sun sets behind you and will illuminate the north canyon walls - and you may get snow on the edges of the canyon after a storm.
During the summer, the sun sets at almost 90° from your shot which provides some great glows and deep shadows in the canyon. During late summer, you will also have a good chance of experiencing some dramatic weather in the late afternoon.
The above shot was taken on xxx
Lens(es) Needed
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
Moran Point is on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. As of the writing of the summary (March 2025) the entry fee was $35 per vehicle. Once in the park there are no other permits required.
Direction of the Shot
Equipment Needed
Other than a tripod, no special photography equipment is needed unless you plan on doing a panoramic shot. You may consider using a polarizing filter to help reduce the glare and dust that usually hangs over the canyon.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
Moran Point is one of the most popular overlooks on the east part of the Grand Canyon and toward sunset, the area will most likely be filled with visitors! And in the summer, at sunset (and sunrise) the crowds can be very large. I would suggest you arrive 30 min or so before sunset to make sure you can secure a good spot.
Weather
This part of the south rim of the Grand Canyon is at 7,000 ft elevation. In the winter, it can be very cold and receive lots of snow. In the summer, it can easily reach the high 90’s°. As with other high desert locations, the Grand Canyon has fairly large swings in temperature from mid-day to evening. In the summer, the days can be very hot, and the evening can be mild to cool.
Cell Service
I have Verizon and cell service can be spotty to good.
Area Guides and Workshops
Rob Strain - offers a Monsoon workshop.