Stanford University Arboretum — a botanical garden in San Mateo County, California — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.5 km (0.9 mi) N of Stanford.
The Stanford University Arboretum is an arboretum located on the grounds of Stanford University in Stanford, California. It is open to the public daily without charge.From the Wikipedia article “Stanford University Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Stanford University Arboretum 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) | 7:13 AM | 90° E | 7:21 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 59° ENE | 8:34 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:07 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:20 AM | 120° ESE | 4:55 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 35m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:54 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:43 PM | 9h 52m |
| February | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 6:55 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:42 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:11 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:31 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:41 PM | 14h 11m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 44m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 14h 30m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:33 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:27 PM | 10h 10m |
| December | 6:48 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 36m |
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 Stanford University Arboretum, 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 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:07 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:14 AM – 5:44 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:17 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:16 AM – 4:06 AM | 3.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| June | 10:26 PM – 3:46 AM | 5.3 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:20 PM – 2:20 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:40 PM – 12:20 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:17 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:00 PM – 8:20 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.03 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). September is the warmest month and January 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 | 67 | 69 | 76 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 84 | 78 | 65 |
| Low °F | 36 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 47 | 39 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.4 |
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 botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Stanford University Arboretum, closest first.
Botanical Garden
National Wildlife Refuge
Ghost Town
Botanical Garden
State Park
Waterfall
Lake
Beach
Ghost TownFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Stanford University Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Stanford University Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Stanford University Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Stanford University Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Stanford University Arboretum?
How far is Stanford University Arboretum from Stanford?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.