Photographer's Short List: Viewpoints and Times of Day

Every photographer visiting the Royal Gorge faces the same challenge: limited time and unlimited possibilities. Here's how to prioritize.

Sunrise Priorities

Red Canyon Park: The red rock formations glow in early morning light. This is your first stop if sunrise photography is the goal. Easy access from town.

Highway 50 river overlooks: Morning light on the river creates reflections. Nothing iconic, but pleasant images.

Morning (Post-Sunrise)

Royal Gorge Bridge: Morning offers front-lit canyon walls and manageable crowds. The gondola provides aerial perspectives difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Temple Canyon: Shadowed in afternoon, but morning light works. Requires a short hike.

Midday

Harsh light makes landscape photography challenging. Use this time for:

• Scouting locations for later
• Indoor activities (museums)
• Eating, resting

If you must shoot, the shaded sections of Skyline Drive work better than fully exposed areas.

Late Afternoon

Skyline Drive: As light softens, the 360-degree views from the ridge become increasingly photogenic. Stay for sunset if conditions look promising.

Back to Red Canyon: The rocks photograph well in either morning or late afternoon light. If you missed sunrise, catch them now.

Sunset

River corridor: Find spots along Highway 50 where the river is visible. Reflections and warm light on water create atmospheric images.

Rooftop Social: Not strictly for photography, but the elevated view makes for nice phone shots while you decompress.

Gear Notes

Wide-angle essential for canyon scale. Polarizer helps with sky and water reflections. Tripod for low-light. The dust requires regular lens cleaning.