StarCast · Utah · Bortle 1–2

Astrophotography in Valley of the Gods

Valley of the Gods is BLM land in the Bears Ears region of southeastern Utah — Bortle 1–2 sky with towering sandstone buttes and mesas as foreground. Often called the 'little Monument Valley' with a fraction of the visitors and equally dramatic terrain.

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Planning guide · Bortle 1–2 · April–October

Where and When to Shoot at Valley of the Gods

The 17-mile unpaved loop road through the valley is accessible by most vehicles in dry conditions — high-clearance recommended but not always essential. No facilities, no entrance fee. The road passes directly among the buttes and monoliths — camping anywhere along the road gives immediate access to extraordinary foreground. The valley is 10 miles north of Mexican Hat, Utah.

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Setting Hen Butte

The iconic isolated butte in the center of the valley is the strongest single foreground subject. The Milky Way rising behind the butte from the south is the signature Valley of the Gods composition.

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Battleship Rock

The elongated mesa formation gives a horizontal foreground element — different from the isolated butte silhouettes elsewhere in the valley. The flat top silhouettes against the night sky cleanly.

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Seven Sailors Formation

The cluster of buttes near the eastern road section gives multiple foreground elements in a single frame. The formations at different heights create natural depth in wide-angle compositions.

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Roadside Camping Areas

Dispersed camping anywhere along the valley road is permitted on BLM land — position your tent directly adjacent to your preferred butte foreground. The road itself gives no light interference.

Season and gear

Best Season and What to Bring

Season: April–October · Road impassable when wet · No facilities · New moon essential

Gear notes: High-clearance vehicle recommended, full gas tank from Mexican Hat, overnight camping supplies, GPS essential — no cell service, check road conditions before entry

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StarCast Push Alerts

Save Valley of the Gods as a location in StarCast. Get a push alert when moon phase, cloud cover, and transparency align for a high-scoring night — before you make the drive. Exclusive to the iOS app.

Common Questions

Is Valley of the Gods good for astrophotography?

What Bortle class is Valley of the Gods?

Valley of the Gods is Bortle 1–2 — strong dark sky for serious astrophotography. StarCast shows Bortle class alongside moon phase and transparency for any location.

When is the best time for astrophotography at Valley of the Gods?

April–October · Road impassable when wet · No facilities · New moon essential. Target new moon windows — within 5 days of new moon for a full dark window. StarCast shows moon phase for any date so you can plan trips months in advance.

How do I check conditions before driving to Valley of the Gods?

Check StarCast for Valley of the Gods — moon phase, Bortle class, transparency, and cloud cover scored together into a single 0–100 night sky score. Check 3–5 days out for planning, confirm 24–48 hours before when transparency is most accurate.

What is LightCast StarCast?

StarCast scores night sky conditions using moon phase, Bortle class, atmospheric transparency, and cloud cover. Push alerts notify you when a high-scoring night is forecast. Free on web at lightcastsuite.com/starcast, push notifications in the LightCast iOS app. $2.99/month after a 7-day free trial.