Need Salt Lake City/Snowbird Shooting Advice

Next week I have a corporate training summit thingy at Cliff Lodge in Snowbird Ski Resort, SE of SLC. I'll be in seminars from 9am through 4:30pm, so that means I have pre-dawn and sunrises all to myself, with an SUV rental car (also staying at Cliff Lodge). I fancy mountain sunrises (mountains of any flavor really) so this is a great opportunity, so if anyone knows that area and has suggestions for shoot locations in a 20-mile radius, that'd be much appreciated.

I do use that amazing Photographer's Ephemeris app, so I'll know exactly where the sun rises. As for sunsets, I think I can get out there in time but it'd be rushed, but locations that are classified as you-gotta-go-here-for-sunsets are most welcomed.

Thanks!

Paul, that's a tough request -- at least for sunrises. If you go into google maps, find Snowbird, and then turn on the "terrain" option, you'll see that Snowbird is relatively deep in a west-facing canyon. You're actually going to have much better chances at sunset. If you're not into hiking, your only real option is to keep heading up the road to Albion basin. That's the bad news. The good news is that Albion basin is remarkable, and is only about fifteen minutes (not miles, minutes) away. So you can easily make it up there for sunsets.

Since you're "stuck" in a canyon, you probably want to head up there for sunrise as well, but you'll be looking at silhouetted peaks with the sky above/behind, hoping for good clouds. If you're dead set on seeing some sunrise alpenglow lighting some peaks, you'll want to drive out or down the canyon, about four or five miles north, and back up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Brighton Ski Area. Although this is only five or ten air miles, I would guess that it will take about an hour of driving. Sunrise is about 7:00am right now, so theoretically you could make it back in time for meetings.

Getting back to the Alta area, if you're willing to hike just a little, I'd head up to the end of the road at Albion Basin and make the short trek to Secret (a.k.a. "Cecret") Lake. It's well-known, despite its name. It's about a mile one-way to the lake. As of mid-August, it was pretty popular, even mid-week as it's not that far out of the city. With school having started, you'll probably have less company next week (and almost certainly not for sunrise, if you're up there then).

There may even be some wildflowers left up there next week. Not the carpets from earlier in the season, but probably something. Really late this year.

Don't forget to ask the front desk as well, once you get there. They'll probably have some good recommendations as well.

Mark, my goodness, that's exactly what I was looking for, thank you for writing all this out! Sounds like I'm gonna make sunsets happen one way or another which is fine. A bad session out there shooting beats a good day in a business meeting by three orders of magnitude.

I'll definitely scope out Albion Basin, and I might shoot for Brighton as there are a couple of days where me showing up a bit late won't cause a stir.

Thanks Mark!

If you are heading over to Big Cottonwood Canyon/Brighton, you can drive up to the top of the pass (minuteman pass?) this time of year. It might be unpaved at the very top, but isn't very rough. It is unpaved but graded on the east all the way to Park City. On top, you're on the crest of the Wasatch Range and have views east and west. Lots of aspens to the east and rugged peaks to the west.

All excellent suggestions here and I can't really add anything to suit your time constraints. Mel was close with Minuteman Pass, it's actually Guardsman Pass and his assessment is spot on. Hope you get some good ones!

Thanks!

For sunsets another option would be to head out to Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake It is outside of the 20 mile radius you suggest, probably an hour drive from Snowbird. However, given that the sunset is occurring about 7:30 this time of year if you get out at 4:30 you will have plenty of time to get there. If the clouds cooperate you can get some good sunsets from from area as you will be west of the metro area. If you go out there be prepared for Mosquitos, but you may spot some other wildlife as Bison and Pronghorn reside on the island.

Others have already shared what would be my sunrise suggestions.

I thought I would add one more. If you are in GOOD physical condition you can make this work. Drive from Snowbird out of Little C-wood and head up Big C-wood for about 5 miles to the beginning of a sharp 'S' curve, that will be 'Mill B' parking area. This is the trailhead to Lake Blanche which is a pretty scenic lake and there is two more very close. The hike is tough for a tight time window, approx. 3 miles and just 3000' elevation gain, I have done it in 1.5 hours after work with A LOT of sweat. If you do it don't forget a headlamp for the hike down in the dark. Good luck

Antelope is definitely cool for sunset (though stinky this time of year), but probably closer to 1:20 than 1:00 from Snowbird. I got a really cool shot of migratory birds on the flats out there last year.

I'm not even in lousy physical condition, I wish, lol! I do appreciate the info, but I'd better lose 100 lbs first...