Winter Wonderland
WINTER WONERLAND
Sunset Point - Bryce Canyon, UT
Image by Don Metz @ www.donmetzphotography.com
Sitting atop the Grand Staircase in southern Utah, Bryce Canyon provides some of the most breath-taking views found anywhere in the American Southwest and provides endless views and composition opportunities for photographers.
And at sunrise, the hoodoos in the Bryce amphitheater glow with an almost un-natural saturation of colors that mesmerize visitors and photographers alike. When the sun first crests the horizon, everyone witnessing it seems to stop what they are doing and are totally captivated by the moment. Add snow to this special place, and you truly have a Winter Wonderland!
Image by Don Metz @ www.donmetzphotography.com
Bryce Canyon has many, many different viewpoints to visit and photograph. This summary is focused on the image above (taken just below the Sunset Viewpoint Overlook). Other locations in Bryce will be provided under different summaries.
Trail Difficulty - EASY TO MODEST
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The walk to the location of this shot is a simple 150 yd from the parking lot. However, if you visit with snow on the ground, the short walk can get dicey with ice on the trail and slow/careful trekking is important.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
8,010 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 the Sunset Point viewing area.
Once in the parking lot, look for the sign to Sunset Point. Walk approximately 150 yds to the Sunset Point viewing area.
Photography Tips
Bryce Canyon has 5 primary visitor overlooks and 2 other interesting locations (along the 3 mile rim trail) which provide great, but different places to find the photography composition that might appeal to you. The viewpoints are: Fairyland Canyon, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. The 2 other interesting locations to visit are: Thor’s Hammer and Wall Street (which are both off of Sunset Point). Most photographers find Sunset Point, Thor’s Hammer, Inspiration and Bryce Points provide the best photographic compositions. Don’t be confused, some of the best shots are sunrise at SUNSET POINT.
Most of the overlooks face eastward so you will find most great shoots are at sunrise and early morning (with exceptions). There are other opportunities during the day and some at sunset, but sunrise and early morning should be your focus.
Because Bryce is so wide with endless hoodoos and unique formations, you will be tempted to only shoot ultra-wide or panoramic to capture the grand visitas. However, I would recommend using medium-wide, standard or short telephoto lens (24-100mm) to photograph this wonderful place.
Other considerations when photographing Bryce Canyon are:
Don’t stop shooting after the sun hits the canyon floor. As it will take several minutes to completely illuminate the amphitheater and you may miss out on some very interesting light.
Be prepared to blend exposures together as the dynamic range from sunrise may be more than your camera can handle.
Consider shooting vistas as a 3 frame VERTICAL pano and stitch them together to the standard aspect ratio. This helps to pull out more detail and correct the keystone effect of shooting downward toward the amphitheater.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 80 mm
Exposure – 20th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Nov 9th
Time – 7:10 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
You can photograph Bryce Canyon from this location any time of day. However, most photographers prefer to shoot this location at sunrise and the sidelight on the red hoodoos glows a brilliant red not seen in many other places in the southwest.
Best Time of Year
You can easily photograph this location (and all locations in Bryce Canyon) any time of year. The summer months (especially during the monsoon season of mid-July to mid-Sept) can bring violent but brief thunderstorms and dramatic weather, which can be great for photography.
The winter months bring snow… and with snow, the brilliant red Hoodoos seem to pop out of the walls and provide much greater depth and texture to the image.
The above image was taken on November 9th.
Lens(es) Needed
The views from Sunset Point are absolutely remarkable - with jaw-dropping scenes north, east and south. At first, it may be tempting to shoot an extreme wide-angle or to even attempt a 200° panorama. However, I have found it best to isolate a specific section of the hoodoos and compose from there. Sometimes, less is more…
Bring your full bag of lenses and try different compositions. Wide-angle, standard, and telephoto as this location is truly a cornucopia for photographic compositions.
The above image was a 3 image vertical pano with a 100mm equivalent lens. This would be equivalent to a 80mm prime lens on a 35mm camera.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
Sunset Point is in the Bryce Canyon National Park and an entrance fee (good for 7 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
As mentioned, you can shoot many different directions from Sunset Point. However, most sunrise images from here are between 30 and 70°. Photographic opportunities change based on the time of year you are visiting - as the sun will rise in the southeast in the winter and northeast in the summer.
Equipment Needed
From a photographic perspective, you will need a sturdy tripod (to potentially do image blending) and 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 can often be very popular for both photographers and other visitors taking in the stunning sunrise and magnificent glow of the endless hoodoos. 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.
My suggestion would be to arrive at least 30 min before sunrise (remember heavy clothing in the Winter) to make sure you get your preferred spot to shoot.
Weather
Due to its high elevation (8,000 ft), the weather at Bryce Canyon is always going to 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 2 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.
Mama used to tell me, if you don’t have anything good to say, just keep it to yourself. So, I will leave it at that…
Area Guides and Workshops
None