Located in Yakima County, Washington, Yakima Area Arboretum is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 3.0 km (1.9 mi) SE of Yakima.
The Yakima Area Arboretum is a 46-acre (19 ha) arboretum in Yakima, Washington on a site adjoining the riparian habitat of the Yakima River. In the 19th century, today's site was a wetland. It was later developed for chicken and vegetable farms, and eventually acquired by the Yakima Metro District. In 1967, the arboretum was established and initial work began. Development has continued ever since. The arboretum currently includes over 1,000 native and exotic species of woody plants, as well as a herbarium and a variety of gardens (butterfly, rose, iris, Japanese, perennial, dryland, and Xeriscape.From the Wikipedia article “Yakima Area Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Yakima Area Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:06 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:09 AM | 54° NE | 9:00 PM | 307° NW | 67° | 15h 50m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:50 AM | 89° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:44 AM | 125° SE | 4:18 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 34m |
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 | 7:09 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:31 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:15 PM | 8h 59m |
| February | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 21m |
| March | 6:45 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:38 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 34m |
| May | 4:53 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:05 PM | 15h 01m |
| June | 4:30 AM | 5:09 AM | 5:56 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:58 PM | 9:37 PM | 15h 49m |
| July | 4:47 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:10 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:30 PM | 15h 28m |
| August | 5:28 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 13m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:17 PM | 6:47 PM | 10h 57m |
| November | 6:32 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:51 AM | 3:44 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:03 PM | 9h 25m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:31 AM | 3:25 PM | 4:16 PM | 4:51 PM | 8h 35m |
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 Yakima Area Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 5:19 AM – 5:29 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:21 AM – 4:21 AM | 1.0 | 14° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:16 AM – 3:06 AM | 1.8 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:46 PM – 2:16 AM | 2.5 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:24 PM – 1:04 AM | 1.7 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:13 PM – 11:03 PM | 0.8 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:59 PM – 8:59 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.44 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ 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 29% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). 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 | 53 | 59 | 70 | 80 | 91 | 101 | 102 | 100 | 96 | 85 | 64 | 51 |
| Low °F | -8 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 36 | 40 | 43 | 30 | 17 | -1 | 0 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 3.5 |
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 Yakima Area Arboretum, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Yakima Area Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Yakima Area Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Yakima Area Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Yakima Area Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Yakima Area Arboretum?
How far is Yakima Area Arboretum from Yakima?
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.