Sunrise is your best bet for light and fewer crowds at Hurricane Deck.

Sunrise. You want to be there at least 30 minutes before the sun actually crests the horizon. The light is warm and dramatic, the shadows are long, and most people are still in their hotel rooms arguing about breakfast. Late afternoon (golden hour) can be just as beautiful, but that’s when everyone else shows up—tour buses, families, all of them. If you want both good light and solitude, sunrise wins.

Bring a headlamp for the hike in and a jacket; it’s cold up there before the sun hits. If you’re not a morning person, late afternoon is still fine—just expect company. But for light and quiet? Dawn every time.