Duskbox
EN

Classic · Nature

Mesa Arch at sunrise 2026: dates and times

Canyonlands, Utah

Next date UTC−6

Mesa Arch at sunrise

What happens

There is no line to hit: what counts is the angle of the light. It comes from 89° with the rising sun between 0.5° and 4.0° high, and the effect holds while it stays there.

Next dates

Local times at the site (America/Denver).

  1. 07:32 UTC−6

    Window 1 August – 30 October · holds 91 days

  2. 06:58 UTC−7

    Window 11 February – 11 May · holds 89 days

  3. 07:33 UTC−6

    Window 2 August – 30 October · holds 90 days

  4. 06:58 UTC−7

    Window 12 February – 10 May · holds 88 days

  5. 07:33 UTC−6

    Window 1 August – 29 October · holds 90 days

  6. 06:59 UTC−7

    Window 11 February – 10 May · holds 88 days

  7. 07:34 UTC−6

    Window 1 August – 30 October · holds 91 days

  8. 06:59 UTC−7

    Window 11 February – 11 May · holds 89 days

  9. 07:32 UTC−6

    Window 1 August – 30 October · holds 91 days

Where to stand

Viewpoint: Rim W of the arch · Canyonlands, Utah
38.38910, -109.86760

Good to know

The tripod line is on the rim just west of the arch. In peak seasons arrive 45–75 minutes early: there are few spots.

The glow under the arch happens almost all year and lasts 1–2 hours: the dates only say when the sun rises inside the opening, and the months come from guides, not a measurement of the arch.

Dates for 2026–2030, worked out by Duskbox’s own astronomy engine: the sun from NREL’s SPA, the moon topocentric, both with atmospheric refraction.

More classics

All classics →