Cathedral Beach — a beach in Mariposa County, California — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Yosemite National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 4.6 km (2.9 mi) away (Cathedral Beach lies WSW of town).
From the National Park Service
Picnic tables, grills, and seasonal river access are available at this scenic spot along the Merced River. The adjacent beach offers remarkable views of El Capitan as well as access to the Merced River when water levels are low. Vault toilets are available in the area. Tips & Seasonal Information This picnic area is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
Swift-moving, cold water is very dangerous and even deadly. Anytime the river is flowing strongly, such as in spring, stay away from the water. Wildlife Safety Keep your distance from animals, even if they approach you. Never feed wild animals. Dispose of trash in bear-proof trash cans or dumpsters. While enjoying your picnic, keep your food, trash, and other scented items within arm's reach. If a bear approaches, yell as loudly as possible to scare the bear away. Accessibility The road and footpaths within the Cathedral Beach area are unpaved with irregular surfaces. The Cathedral Beach Picnic Area features wheelchair-accessible picnic tables with extended tops, accessible restrooms, and grills. There are no designated accessible parking spaces.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cathedral Beach the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:38 AM | 59° ENE | 8:24 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:11 AM | 120° ESE | 4:44 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 33m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:45 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 6:44 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:32 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:59 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:06 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 46m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 31m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:34 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:18 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:17 PM | 10h 09m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 34m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Cathedral Beach, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:57 AM – 5:17 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:08 AM – 4:48 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:07 AM – 3:57 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:18 PM – 3:38 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:11 PM – 2:11 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:31 PM – 12:11 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:50 PM – 8:10 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.62 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 15% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 60 | 64 | 67 | 72 | 86 | 91 | 96 | 91 | 90 | 82 | 74 | 62 |
| Low °F | -9 | -7 | -4 | -3 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 34 | 23 | 14 | -9 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 4.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this beach
- Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.
Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Cathedral Beach, closest first.
Waterfall
Rock Formation
Waterfall
Rock Formation
Waterfall
Waterfall
Rock Formation
Waterfall
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Camp 42.8 km (1.7 mi) · reservable
- Lower Pines Campground5.5 km (3.4 mi) · reservable
- North Pines Campground5.7 km (3.5 mi) · reservable
- Upper Pines Campground5.7 km (3.5 mi) · reservable
- Bridalveil Creek Campground6.8 km (4.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cathedral Beach?
What time is golden hour at Cathedral Beach?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cathedral Beach?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cathedral Beach?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cathedral Beach?
How far is Cathedral Beach from Yosemite Valley?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.