Are you an early bird or a night owl? If you like to sleep in, you're probably missing out on some incredible Utah sunrises. There's one spot here on the Utah/Arizona border that's one of the most photographed places in the entire world, and it's particularly stunning as the sun begins to rise.
Set your alarm clock and head to the border - you're going to want to see this.
Monument Valley's iconic sandstone buttes draw photographers at all times of day. This stunning, colorful shot was taken at sunset, but in our opinion, the sunrises are even more beautiful.
People travel from all over the world to witness this sunrise, and it's right here in our own backyard. To get situated before dawn, you'll want to spend the night at a nearby campground or hotel.
To enter the valley, you'll pay a $5 day fee to the Navajo Tribal Park. You can get more information about the Monument Valley Tribal Park here.
As the sun peeks over the horizon, the entire valley lights up. This vast valley is at its best in the early morning hours.
As that sun starts to climb a bit higher in the sky, it positions itself amongst the sandstone buttes. The buttes stand 400 to 1,000 feet tall.
The buttes each have a name: East and West Mitten Buttes have large spires. If you use your imagination just a bit, they look like a pair of mittens. Merrick Butte is the one to the right.
You don't need a perfectly clear morning to get an incredible sunrise out here in the desert. You will want to make sure to bring a jacket, however. Even in the summer months, it can be a bit chilly before the sun rises.
Capturing all three buttes with the rising sun is a great shot, but don't forget to appreciate each butte by itself.
Even if you're not visiting for the sole purpose of photographing the sunrise at Monument Valley, you'll still want to get a few selfies.
There are plenty of places around the Beehive State that are gorgeous at dawn, but it's pretty exciting to see the sunrise at Monument Valley!
Have you seen the sunrise at Monument Valley Tribal Park? We'd love to see your photos in the comments!
If you love to see photos of our beautiful state, consider joining our Utah Nature Lovers Group on Facebook. You can scroll through tons of gorgeous photos taken by talented Utah photographers, and can post your own to share as well!
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