Here is an image of sunrise off the main road. You can simply pull off the road and disperse camp and observe. I like a little more elevation though.
Here is one map of the area:
Here are some of the pictures of where I have observed. Note, this is not my car or trailer.
Here are some videos of this area. The first video is where the two images above come from.
What is said in this video is very true. The dozen or so times I have observed here, I have never ran into people or had them near me.
This is the video on YouTube that I like best of all. They went down off the west side of the range and it is the side I love. The gravel pit they mention is a good place but I prefer the more southern parts of the drive and the range to observe from. You do have the Salt Lake Light Dome to the east but the southeast, south, southwest and west, northwest and north are just beautiful but to be out in and to observe from!
On Google Maps from my home it is about 1 hour and 50 minutes to one of my observing spots an 87.5 miles. Again, now with DST it isn't something I go to and come back, this is an overnight trip.
Go west from Salt Lake City on I-80 for about 70 miles to exit 56. This is 56 miles east of Wendover. Once off the highway, head south and reset your odometer.
2.0 miles - Turn left onto the dirt road. This is just before the gated facility. ( 12T 332388mE 4511721mN / N40° 44' 22" W112° 59' 06" )
3.4 miles - Turn right (south). There is a BLM info sign here. ( 12T 334389mE 4511091mN / N40° 44' 03" W112° 57' 41" )
9.6 miles - Stay straight. ( 12T 331615mE 4502095mN / N40° 39' 09" W112° 59' 30" )
16.1 miles - Old log cabin on the left. Continue straight. ( 12T 330619mE 4492735mN / N40° 34' 05" W113° 00' 03" )
16.8 miles - Water hole on the left, and dirt road. Keep following the Cedar Mountain Road south for about 3.5 miles. At one point look for the dirt road to the left and turn on it and follow it up. Here is a map as a guide. This goes from the water hold to where I like to observe here.
Maps:
Here is the eastern side I observe at:
My other areas that I observe I call Rydalch Canyon Observing areas. Here are the directions to get there. They are on the eastern side of the Cedar Mountains.
From Northern Utah County take Pioneer Crossing west from American Fork (becomes UT-73) about 42 miles to UT-36. Turn left and continue 3-3/4 miles to UT-199, then head west another 22 miles toward Dugway. At the church just outside the Dugway military entrance, take a hard right onto UT-196. Continue north about 7-1/4 miles, and turn west (left) onto this dirt road. The road proceeds on a straight course for about 5-1/2 miles, then veers northward (keep right at the fork). Continue north then west along this road 8 miles to the crossroad, then north another 2 miles to the mouth of Rydalch Pass. From this point, refer to information provided above for accessing the area from Skull Valley.
Here are those directions:
To reach the western viewing areas from Skull Valley, take I-80 west from Salt Lake City approximately 43 miles to Exit 77 (U-196, Iosepa/Dugway). Upon exiting, turn left at the stop sign and continue along UT-196 for approximately 17 miles. Along the way, you will pass Lone Rock (3 miles) and Horseshoe Spring (9.5 miles). As you approach the 20 mile marker, watch for the BLM sign at the southern end of the large cattle yard, indicating the road to Rydalch Pass and 8 Mile Spring. Follow this dirt road for approximately 3/4 mile, until you cross the cattle guard. Immediately beyond the cattle guard, veer southwest (left) onto South Valley Road (unmarked), and continue for another 12 miles to Rydalch Pass. About 11 miles in, as you approach Rydalch Pass, Rydalch Road will join on the right. Another road branches left toward Cochran Spring about 3/4 mile further on, but stay the course and follow around to the right, onto Cedar Mountain Road. The pass itself is about 5 miles from entrance to exit.
I intend to head there in late March, April or May, probably April or May depending of course on the weather.
