Photographer declares Summerlin’s sunrises, sunsets among valley’s best

Tom Craig of Opulence Studios said sunrises and sunsets in the master-planned community of Summerlin are ideal for photographing.

Craig, who has been photographing the community for more than 17 years since its inception in 1990, claims that Summerlin provides some of the best vantage points for viewing in the early morning and early evening hours.

Located on elevated topography along the valley's western rim, Summerlin overlooks the Las Vegas Valley to the east. Select locations within the community are more than 4,000 feet above sea level -- a couple thousand feet higher than the east side of the valley -- according to S. William Neighbors, an engineer with G.C. Wallace Inc.

"Summerlin's elevation reaches 4,400 feet above sea level at its highest point, with many parts of the community ranging from approximately 2,700 feet to nearly 3,200 feet," Neighbors said. "To put these numbers in perspective, the elevation at Water Street and Lake Mead Drive in Henderson is 1,890 feet and the elevation at Sunset Road and Green Valley Parkway in Henderson is 1,945 feet."

According to Nikkole Liesse, marketing director for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin, the community's natural and manmade aesthetics are readily enhanced by a great sunrise or sunset.

"Especially from the community's western edge that sits high above the valley," she said. "Summerlin has some great spots to catch a romantic sunset or inspirational sunrise. It's just one more selling point for a community already brimming with beauty."

For more information, visit Summerlin.com.