International Larix Arboretum is a botanical garden in Flathead County, Montana. It sits roughly 9.2 km (5.7 mi) E of Columbia Falls.
The International Larix Arboretum is a small arboretum of 1.2 acres (4,900 m2) dedicated to the scientific study of the larch (Larix) species. It is located within the Coram Experimental Forest, 30 yards SE of the Hungry Horse Ranger station at 10 Hungry Horse Drive Hungry Horse, Montana. The Arboretum is open to the public, without charge, during daylight hours from April to October. Coram Experimental Forest was established in 1933 on the Flathead National Forest as an area representative of the Western Larch (Larix occidentalis). While quite similar in appearance to other members of the pine tree family (pinaceae), the larch is not an evergreen. It is deciduous and its needle-like leaves turn yellow and are shed in the autumn. In addition, its wood is water resistant and thus used for fence posts, boat building, and exterior cladding.From the Wikipedia article “International Larix Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At International Larix Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:40 AM | 89° E | 7:49 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:36 AM | 52° NE | 9:42 PM | 308° NW | 65° | 16h 06m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:24 AM | 89° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:26 AM | 126° SE | 4:45 PM | 235° SW | 18° | 8h 19m |
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 | 7:48 AM | 8:23 AM | 9:15 AM | 4:18 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:45 PM | 8h 46m |
| February | 7:12 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:29 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:58 PM | 6:30 PM | 10h 14m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:32 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:13 PM | 11h 51m |
| April | 6:14 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:27 PM | 9:00 PM | 13h 40m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:47 PM | 15h 13m |
| June | 4:53 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:24 AM | 8:51 PM | 9:40 PM | 10:22 PM | 16h 05m |
| July | 5:12 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:39 AM | 8:46 PM | 9:34 PM | 10:14 PM | 15h 43m |
| August | 5:56 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:27 PM | 14h 21m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:22 PM | 12h 37m |
| October | 7:25 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:39 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:20 PM | 10h 52m |
| November | 7:11 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 14m |
| December | 7:45 AM | 8:22 AM | 9:16 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:19 PM | 8h 21m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 International Larix Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from May through July. May gives the longest window (about 1.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| April | 4:25 AM – 4:45 AM | 0.3 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 2:20 AM – 3:20 AM | 1.0 | 12° | SSE → S |
| June | 1:14 AM – 1:54 AM | 0.7 | 13° | S → S |
| July | 12:27 AM – 1:07 AM | 0.7 | 12° | S → SSW |
| August | 11:00 PM – 11:10 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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 ≈ 21.64 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (81%). 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 | 43 | 47 | 65 | 73 | 82 | 96 | 98 | 99 | 90 | 78 | 57 | 40 |
| Low °F | -32 | -38 | -29 | -7 | 20 | 24 | 35 | 35 | 22 | 2 | -29 | -31 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
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.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- 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 International Larix Arboretum, closest first.
Canyon
Fire Lookout
Glacier
Lake
Scenic Viewpoint
State Park
Glacier
Fire Lookout
Fire LookoutCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Emery Bay Campground9.8 km (6.1 mi) · reservable
- Doris Creek Campground10.4 km (6.5 mi) · reservable
- Lost Johnny Campground10.8 km (6.7 mi) · reservable
- Lost Johnny Point Campground10.8 km (6.7 mi) · reservable
- Lid Creek Campground15.7 km (9.7 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph International Larix Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at International Larix Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at International Larix Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from International Larix Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at International Larix Arboretum?
How far is International Larix Arboretum from Columbia Falls?
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.