Coal Mine Canyon
COAL MINE CANYON
Near Tuba City, AZ
Coal Mine Canyon is another of the unique places in the American Southwest that seem to appear out of absolute nowhere. About 20 miles south of the small town of Tuba City, AZ in the middle of a barren, and seemly lifeless desert appears this magical oasis of shapes, formations and color.
Certainly, one of the coolest places you have never heard of, this jaw-dropping canyon provides endless photographic opportunities and leaves you wondering how it all happened. The most intriguing feature of Coal Mine Canyon is the vivid magenta and yellow striations that seem to pop out of the rocks. At sunset, canyon’s glow can provide for a spectacular vista.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2.5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to the location of this shot is a ranges from an easy 1/4 hike to 200 yds (depending on where you park). However, the drive to the parking location can be a bit bumpy (when dry) and almost impassable when wet. That being said, the location of the shot is near a ledge with a 300ft drop.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
5,618 Ft. Elevation
Google Earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the parking area for Coal Mine Canyon
The closest city to Coal Mine Canyon is Tuba City, AZ.
There are two entrances to Coal Mine Canyon - for this location, we are going to the south entrance. From Tuba City, drive south on AZ-264 east for 18 miles and look for a sign on the right side of the road for Hotevilla / Keams Canyon. The entrance to Coal Mine Canyon is on the opposite side of the road from this sign.
Pass through the cattle gate and travel on the dirt road for .4 of a mile - where you will come to a split in the dirt road - VEER RIGHT. Drive down the hill for another .3 of a mile where you come to another split in the dirt road. This time VEER LEFT and drive for another .8 of a mile (total of 1.5 miles).
At this point you can either: 1) park and walk the remaining 1/4 mile toward the canyon rim or drive to a small parking area right next the canyon rim. If the road is not wet, you can drive it in a 4 wheel vehicle. The location of the shot is about 200yd west of the small parking area by the rim.
The dirt road looks a bit ominous, but if not wet, you won’t have any problems getting to at least the 1st parking area.
Photography Tips
The shot from this location is pretty straightforward - not much to it other than finding the composition you like and waiting for the right weather and/or light.
With that being said, the entire Coal Mine Canyon is VERY, VERY large (with 2 separate entrances points) and you could spend all day scouting out different views, angles and locations. If you have time, I would suggest arriving early in the day and driving/walking around the canyon rim to find compositions you like. Once you settle on your composition, wait for the right light and capture a great image.
The shot above is a late afternoon, NOT A SUNSET SHOT! If you wait for sunset, the canyon will be void of the illumination from the sun, color, contrast and dimension. You need to be ready to shoot about an hour before sunset and may need to capture several images as the shadows/sun cross over the canyon floor.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 32 mm
Exposure – 180th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – May 1st
Time – 6:38pm
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The location is best photographed at either late afternoon (about 30-45 minutes before sunset) or sunrise/early morning. My preference would be late afternoon, as the long rays from the sun in the canyon give better depth the the image.
The above shot was taken about 1/2 hour before sunset (@ 6:38pm on a day the sunset @7:10pm). If you wait longer, the sun’s rays down in the canyon will be gone. If you want the sun’s rays in your shot, you need to be at the location & ready to shoot about 1 hour before sunset.
With your permit, overnight camping is permissible - so you can stay the night and capture some great images at dawn/sunrise and early morning.
Best Time of Year
This location can be photographed any time of the year. However, the best times for this specific location, would be non-summer months. During the summer, the sun will be setting at the front left of your shot. In the spring/fall, the sun would set more to your left.
The above image was taken on May 1st.
Lens(es) Needed
There are countless compositions available at and around Coal Mine Canyon. You can use lenses ranging from ultra-wide to telephoto to capture a nice image.
The above image was taken @ 32mm.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
PERMIT REQUIRED - Coal Mine Canyon is in the Navajo Nation and a permit is required to enter. You can obtain a permit at the Cameron Visitor Center located at the southwest corner of the traffic circle at the intersection of Highways 89 and 64 in Cameron, AZ. As of the writing of this summary (June 2020), permits fees were $12.00 per person for a day.
Phone (928) 679-2303
NOTE: Due to COVID - access to Navajo land may be restricted or closed to non-Navajos. Check with the The Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation website before planning to visit.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is north by northwest at around 350°.
Equipment Needed
All you need a sturdy tripod and possibly a polarizer, unless you plan on doing a panoramic shot. You may also want to consider using a tilt/shift lens to compensate for the keystone effect while pointing down toward the canyon floor.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The Coal Mine Canyon is off the beaten path and it would be unusual to see anyone else there.
Weather
The area around Tuba City / Coal Mine Canyon is the high desert climate at about 5,600 ft. elevation. The temperatures can vary up to 30° - 40° a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can get into the high 90s.
Pay close attention to afternoon storms while at the Coal Mine Canyon. The road to the location of this shot is can get VERY muddy and could be impassable in a major rain storm.
Cell Service
I have Verizon and the cell service from this location is spotty. A stronger cell signal is available as you approach Tuba City.
Overnight Camping Options
The closest town in Tuba City, AZ which has many lodging opportunities. The only camping spot I know of is in the Coal Mine Canyon. Camping is permitted with a permit from the Navajo Nation.
Nearby Restaurants
The closest town to Coal Mine Canyons is Tuba City, AZ. If you are traveling to Cameron, AZ, make sure to stop by the Cameron Trading Post. Great place, nice folks with tasty Navajo Fry Bread or a good breakfast.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Hogan Family Restaurant
(928) 283-5260
10 Main St, Tuba City, AZ
Cameron Trading Post
(877) 608-3491
466 N Hwy 89, Cameron, AZ
Area Guides and Workshops
None