Eclipse Viewing Tips
- It is never safe to view an eclipse without proper eye protection. And standard sunglasses won’t cut it — look for certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers that have been approved by the American Astronomical Society.
- When choosing an eclipse viewing spot, keep safety and preparation in mind. Avoid stopping on the highway and be aware of surrounding cliff terrain or wildlife. If you're venturing into a remote area, you'll want to research your route and take into account the abilities of everyone in your group (Read: How To Stay Safe in the Outdoors). You'll also want to avoid areas where obstructions might be in your line of sight, and note that higher elevation can increase cloud coverage. If you intend to watch the eclipse on public lands, check out these tips from BLM Utah.
- Please note that local Indigenous Tribes have traditional beliefs and practices surrounding eclipses. These can include not viewing the eclipse or images of the eclipse, being silent or remaining indoors. It can also mean some tribal lands will be closed during the eclipse. Navajo Tribal Parks and Monuments will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the day of the eclipse. See more tips on how to visit with respect, courtesy of the Bears Ears Partnership.
- The duration of annularity — when the moon is fully silhouetted against the sun — can vary depending upon your viewing location, even within the same city. To determine the precise duration of an exact location, check out this interactive eclipse Google map developed by author and astrophotographer Xavier Jubier.
- These Utah counties are forecasted to have viewing locations with a duration of four minutes or more: Beaver, Garfield, Juab, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Tooele and Wayne. For eclipse duration by city, visit nationaleclipse.com.
- Utah is on Mountain Time, so be sure to adjust your clock to the correct time upon arriving in the state.
- The eclipse is scheduled to enter Utah around 9 a.m. MT, with annularity beginning roughly around 10:20 a.m. MT. The eclipse exits the state around 12 noon MT.
- The direct path of the eclipse in Utah passes over scenic forest, mountain and desert landscapes. Views promise to be spectacular, but remember to be prepared for limited services in these remote areas. Expect small towns with fewer resources, lots of wilderness area and intermittent cell service. See more responsible travel tips.
"The path of annularity will cross over three of Utah’s national parks: Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef — all stunning landscapes for viewing nature's ring of fire."
National Parks in Direct Path
-
Bryce Canyon National Park
An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon.
-
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.
-
Capitol Reef National Park
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
Other Parks & Places in Eclipse Path
-
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park could almost be mistaken for a martian landscape with intricate and bizarre geologic formations. Bring the family and experience this amazing place by hiking, camping, mountain biking and exploring the surrounding canyons.
-
Fishing Panguitch Lake
Panguitch Lake is one of Utah’s most popular fishing destinations, and some of the state’s largest trout are pulled right from its waters.
-
Bullfrog Marina
Of the five marinas on Lake Powell, Bullfrog Marina is the closest to the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, and it offers the most amenities outside of Wahweap.
-
Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
Get a feel for what life was like for those early pioneers establishing Utah. There are tons of interesting artifacts, and you can take it in at your own pace. The knowledgeable staff is happy to field your questions and engage your kids’ curiosity.
-
Yuba State Park & Reservoir
The sandy shores and pleasant waters of Yuba Reservoir beckon anglers, swimmers and kayakers. Explore Yuba State Park’s camping sites, OHV trail system, weather, entry fees and pet policy.
-
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
The Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir. This small reservoir is popular for boating, canoeing, and fishing.
-
Fremont Indian State Park and Museum
Part way through the rugged Clear Creek Canyon, your team uncovers what turns out to the be largest known prehistoric Fremont Village site — more than 100 structures filled with countless artifacts. The extensive excavation from that highway discovery is preserved in nearby Fremont Indian State Park.
-
Natural Bridges National Monument
As you start to descend toward Natural Bridges National Monument, the groundcover becomes more luxuriant and the trees taller. You cannot see the chaotic landscape of Natural Bridges from the highway– it is only revealed once inside the park.
-
Piute State Park
Piute State Park is a small, primitive outdoor oasis in southwestern Utah with world-class fishing, ATV trails and more.
-
Anasazi State Park Museum
The Anasazi State Park Museum near Boulder, Utah is the former site of one of the largest Puebloan communities in the region. Learn more and plan a visit!
-
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin covers 2,240 acres of canyon country and is surrounded by Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on three sides.
-
Otter Creek State Park
Come to Utah’s Otter Creek State Park for the crystal-clear lake, stay for the trout fishing, ATV trails and campground. Start planning now!
-
The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12
This is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving bliss. Welcome to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, a designated All-American Road.
-
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Considered sacred in Navajo culture, Rainbow Bridge is a symbol of deities responsible for creating rain, the essence of life in the desert.
-
Millsite State Park
MIllsite State Park in Central Utah is an outdoor paradise with boating, fishing, biking, hiking, camping and more. Plan your visit today!
-
Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep, the Ute Indian word meaning ‘deserted valley,' stands as a sentinel of Ancestral Puebloan ruins in a landscape of sage and juniper. Info from VisitUtah.com.
-
Dixie National Forest
This forest stretches for 170 miles across southern Utah. Visitors can experience its brilliant red spires and cliffs by car or by hiking one of the nature trails in the canyon.
-
Palisade State Park
Not often does a single destination offer boating, fishing, golfing, camping and OHV trails within easy reach. In a sense, Palisade State Park is a vacation oasis.
-
Manti-La Sal National Forest
The Manti-La Sal National Forest consists of three blocks located in central, eastern and southeastern Utah. The area has an abundance of lakes and is great for fishing, hiking and more.
-
Fishlake National Forest
This is a paradise known for its beautiful aspen forests, sundry scenic drives, trails, elk hunting, and mackinaw and rainbow trout fishing. Recreational opportunities include scenic drives, mountain biking, snowmobiling, hiking, camping and OHV use.
-
Grand Staircase-Escalante
The allure of the Grand Staircase region — the bulk of which is contained in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument — is phenomenal. Sun-drenched Utah backcountry spreads out well beyond the visible horizon from the road, whether you’re traveling along the The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12, or on Highway 89.
-
Bears Ears National Monument
A pair of towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. The twin buttes are so distinctive that in each of the native languages of the region their name is the same: Hoon'Naqvut, Shash Jáa, Kwiyagatu Nukavachi, Ansh An Lashokdiwe, or in English: Bears Ears.
-
Goosenecks State Park
Located north of Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park is an easy-to-get-to area with a million-dollar view. The San Juan River begins in the mountains of Colorado and travels to its junction with the Colorado River at Lake Powell.
-
Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers more than 1.2 million acres of unparalleled opportunities for land- and water-based recreation.
.jpg?w=450&h=597&mode=crop&quality=65)
Cities & Towns in Eclipse Path
-
Beaver
Beaver, with a population of 3,000, is a gateway to gorgeous landscapes, rivers and streams, miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, breathtaking scenic drives, haunted ghost towns, and plenty of peace and quiet.
-
Blanding
Blanding blends cowboy culture with Native American and prehistoric history. The Edge of the Cedars State Park & Museum features the largest display of Ancestral Puebloan artifacts in the Four Corners region, and the Dinosaur Museum, a federal fossil repository, showcases life-size models, skeletons, and a 250-million-year-old petrified tree.
-
Bluff
Rich in human and natural history, Bluff is a central point along the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway. It is a gateway to Monument Valley, Bears Ears National Monument, Valley of the Gods and Hovenweep National Monument.
-
Boulder
Boulder, Utah, is a remote, charming town full of scenic beauty. This gateway to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park offers relaxation and outdoor adventure.
-
Delta
Delta is known as a base camp for exploring the Little Sahara Sand Dunes and the West Desert. Delta is a stopping point on the way to Great Basin National Park, visiting town to see the Great Basin and Topaz Museums, Fort Deseret and the old Van’s Dance Hall.
-
Escalante
Between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks and perched on the edge of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, the town of Escalante offers access to some of the most beautiful parts of Southern Utah.
-
Fillmore
Learn about Fillmore, UT, and plan your stay with a list of hotels and attractions in the area. Enjoy hiking in Territorial Statehouse State Park.
-
Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat sits along the San Juan River among impressive rock formations. The town gets its name from a rock formation that resembles an overturned sombrero. Get free travel guides and maps for planning your next Utah vacation.
-
Monticello
The southeastern Utah town of Monticello lies on the sheltered eastern slope of the Abajo Mountains, overlooking a maze of sandstone canyons and plateaus.
-
Panguitch
Panguitch, Utah, captures the enduring pioneer spirit of Utah with its welcoming rural charm and strong sense of heritage.
-
Richfield
Known as the hub of Central Utah, Richfield is the largest city for more than a hundred miles and is an amenity-rich home base for exploring Central Utah’s sights and rugged outdoor recreation.
-
Sanpete Valley
Travelers in Sanpete Valley stop in Spring City, Ephraim and Manti for a mix of local cultures, heritage activities and scenic driving along Utah's Heritage Highway 89, which winds through what is known as the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.
-
Ticaboo
Visitors looking to get away from crowded national parks to enjoy the beauty of Southern Utah will find an escape in Ticaboo. Boating, fishing, biking, canyoneering, and off-road riding are all popular.
-
Torrey
Torrey's proximity to Capitol Reef National Park, the mountains of Fishlake and Dixie National Forests, Scenic Byway 12: Utah's All-American Road, sublime desert landscapes to trout-filled alpine lakes, make Torrey an outdoor lover's perfect hub for some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities in the state.
01
Bears Ears Area Starter Kit
A pair of distinctive, towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. We call them "Bears Ears." With the help of local expertise, respectfully explore ancestral cliff dwellings and massive natural bridges in a fascinating desert ecosystem.
Highlights
- Edge of the Cedars State Park
- Ancestral Puebloan Dwellings
- Hovenweep National Monument
- Natural Bridges National Monument
02
The Complete Capitol Reef Trip
Planning a trip to Capitol Reef National Park? Explore these local-favorite destinations in the Capitol Reef region to make the most of your trip!
Highlights
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Petroglyphs
- Stargazing Capitol Reef
- Explore the town of Torrey, Utah
- Fremont Indian State Park
03
Southern Dinos and Goblins
From fossils and petroglyphs to slot canyons and goblins, you’ll have four days of “oohs” and “ahhs” for the whole adventuring family.
Highlights
- Moab Adventures
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Goblin Valley State Park
04
The Complete Canyonlands Trip
The Canyonlands Region of Utah combines the best of the Moab area's easy proximity to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park's most accessible district with some of the United State's most remote and culturally significant landscapes.
Highlights
- Canyonlands National Park
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
05
The Complete Bryce Canyon Trip
Planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park? Explore these local-favorite destinations in the Bryce Canyon region to make the most of your trip!
Highlights
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12
- Guided Hikes in Bryce Canyon
- Stargazing Bryce Canyon
- Hoodoo Filled Red Rock Desert
