Thors Hammer
SUNRISE AT THOR'S HAMMER
Bryce Canyon, UT
Witnessing a sunrise at Thor's Hammer at Bryce Canyon during the winter months is one of the most amazing moments found anywhere in the American Southwest.
As the sun first crests the horizon, this seemingly out-of-place hoodoo glows with an almost unnatural saturation of colors that mesmerizes visitors and photographers alike. Everyone seems to stop what they are doing and is captivated by the scene.
Bryce Canyon sits atop the Grand Staircase in southern Utah and provides endless views and photographic opportunities. Thor's Hammer, found just below Sunset Point, is the most recognized and photographed formation in one of America's most unique national parks.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The walk to this location is a simple 400 yd walk from the parking lot.
If you visit Bryce Canyon with snow on the ground, the trail to Sunset Point can be a bit dicey. And the walk down to Thor's Hammer with ice on the trail can be a challenge - so slow/careful trekking is important.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
7,870 Ft. Elevation
Google Earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the parking lot for Sunset Point
From Bryce, UT (city of Bryce) - drive 2.4 miles south 0n UT-63 S toward the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance. Once going through the park entrance, travel another 1.4 miles and turn left and drive 1/4 mile to Sunset Point.
From the parking lot, look for the sign to Sunset Point. Walk approximately 150 yds towards the Sunset Point viewing area. Once on the viewing area, look for a walkway on the left side to Navajo Loop. Hike down the walkway and stay left at the end of the 1st switchback. Continue on the walkway down to the next switchback for another 200 yds, and you will see Thor's Hammer in front of you.
There are two small dirt-standing areas (large enough for a couple of people) on the walk toward Thor's Hammer. The image above was taken from the 2nd (lower) location.
Photography Tips
Photographing Thor's Hammer can be challenging because of the extreme dynamic range, the placement of the Hammer, the amount of hoodoo you want to include, and the angle of the sun rising (time of year). I have seen many different compositions of Thor's Hammer and don't know that I can decide which is best.
Photographing in the Winter - the image above was taken on Feb 7th
As mentioned at Sunrise, the dynamic range is so extreme you will most likely need to composite several images to capture the complete scene. Once the glow first hits the hoodoos, it takes about 3-5 minutes to completely illuminate the full canyon - so different parts of the scene glow at different times.
The image below was a composite of 4 images: 1 for the sky and the other 3 to capture the red glow at different stages of the Sunrise. The sky was taken about 8 min before Sunrise, and the other three images were taken between 7:29 and 7:34 am on a morning when the Sunrise was at 7:26 am. The red glow from the sun hits the lower part of Thor's Hammer first, then over the next few minutes lights up the rest of the Hammer and the hoodoos in the canyon.
The reason for mentioning this - is you almost need to pick a single composite before Sunrise and stick with it until the Sunrise is done. This is not a hard rule, but I have found it challenging to capture Thor's Hammer glow at Sunrise without compositing images.
Photographing at different times of the year
You can photograph Thor's Hammer any time of year. However, the angle of the rising sun moves further northeast during the Spring/Fall and directly in front of the scene during the Summer.
In addition to the extreme dynamic range, there are many different compositions from this same spot. Below are a couple of other compositions - taken during the Summer, from the same basic location.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 40 mm
Exposure – 1 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Feb 7th
Time – 6:34 am
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
You can photograph Thor's Hammer any time of day. However, the only time to catch the effervescence glow of the red/orange hoodoos is for the first few minutes after Sunrise. Witnessing Sunrise at Thor's Hammer is SPECIAL! The glow, the unworldly hues, and saturation that presents itself directly in front of you are seen by few and forgotten by none.
I would strongly suggest arriving at the location for your composition at least 20 minutes before Sunrise - as you will have to blend the earlier sky with the first light on the hoodoos to capture the moment.
Best Time of Year
You can photograph Thor's Hammer (and all locations in Bryce Canyon) any time of year. However, for Thor's Hammer, the winter months (mid-October - mid-February) is best as the sun rises to the right of your composition and the glow is somewhat defused.
Late spring and early fall, the sun is part of your composition, making it difficult to produce a good image. During Summer, the sun is rising directly in front of your composition.
Lens(es) Needed
Depending on your composition, you will want to bring a wide-angle to standard lens.
The image above was taken with a 40mm equivalent lens.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
Thor's Hammer is in the Bryce Canyon National Park, and an entrance fee (good for seven days) is required ($35) - which can be purchased either at the entrance gate or the visitors' center. Once in the park, there are no other permits required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is northeast, around 50°.
Equipment Needed
You will need a sturdy tripod (to potentially do image blending). I would suggest a polarizing filter to reduce the glare and help "pop" the colorful hoodoos.
If you are at Sunset Point in the Winter, you will most likely need heavy-duty winter clothes, a hat, and gloves. The temperatures at Bryce Canyon in the Winter often get in the single digits.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
Sunrise at Sunset Point is a popular spot for photographers and other visitors. Depending on the time of the year, the crowds from the viewing area can range from 10-50 and can get a little crowded and sometimes testy. However, walking down to the location to shoot Thor's Hammer does not attract many people. But remember, there are only two primary walk-outs to photograph, so arrive early to grab your spot.
My suggestion would be to arrive at least 20 minutes before Sunrise (remember heavy clothing in the Winter) to ensure you get your preferred spot to shoot.
Weather
Due to its high elevation (8,000 ft), the weather at Bryce Canyon will always be cooler/colder than other parts of the American Southwest. The Summer is a great time to visit and escape the heat, with highs in the 70's or low 80's. However, the Winter can be downright cold - with temperatures often in the single digits.
Cell Service
I have Verizon, and cell service is pretty good at most locations along the Bryce Canyon rim and parking areas. The cell service is very strong as you drive back to the town of Bryce.
Overnight Camping Options
There is an abundance of lodging, RV parks, and camping in and around Bryce, UT, including two campgrounds in the National Park. Campgrounds inside the park include the North Campground with 99 sites (open Spring - Fall and Loop A open year-round) and the Sunset Campground with 100 sites (open April - October).
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
North Campground (2 miles away)
Sunset Campground (1 mile away)
Nearby Restaurants
There are several dining establishments in and around Bryce, UT. None will be in the running for a Michelin Star.
Area Guides and Workshops
None