Agnes Gorge Trail — a canyon in Chelan County, Washington — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to North Cascades National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 58 km (36 mi) ENE of Darrington.
From the National Park Service
Experience a diversity of vegetation—from dry, open slopes to creeks and cedar forests—and views of jagged Agnes Peak. The trail gently rolls up and down through varied forest terrain with occasional gorge views and features a wide selection of wildflowers in early and mid-summer. The trail begins in the national park and continues into the Glacier Peak Wilderness in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
At the end of the trail, Agnes Creek cascades 200 feet (60 m) through a narrow gorge. There was once a suspension bridge over the gorge and there are a few remnant metal components on the forest floor, as well as the concrete abutments that anchored the bridge. Parts of the trail can be wet and muddy in spring and early summer. Look for waterfalls across the gorge in spring and early summer. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Distance and elevation: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) one way with 500 feet (150 m) elevation gain. Access: Trailhead is near High Bridge, 11 miles from Stehekin Landing. Cross the river at High Bridge, and continue up the Stehekin Valley Road approximately one-quarter mile. Trailhead is on the left. Note: Agnes Creek Trailhead leads to the Pacific Crest Trail, and is a separate trailhead from Agnes Gorge. No pets allowed. Backcountry Camping: Agnes Gorge is a day use area and camping is not allowed along the trail in the national park or in the national forest. Nearest camps to this trail are at High Bridge and Tumwater, both located along the Stehekin Valley Road. A backcountry permit is required for all overnight stays in the park complex.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Agnes Gorge Trail 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) | 7:07 AM | 89° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:03 AM | 52° NE | 9:09 PM | 308° NW | 65° | 16h 06m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:51 AM | 89° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:53 AM | 126° SE | 4:12 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
Canyons need light from above: rims glow at sunrise and sunset, while deep or narrow sections are brightest near midday when reflected light bounces off the walls.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:42 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:36 PM | 5:12 PM | 8h 46m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 14m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:40 PM | 11h 51m |
| April | 5:41 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 40m |
| May | 4:47 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:15 PM | 15h 13m |
| June | 4:21 AM | 5:02 AM | 5:52 AM | 8:18 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:49 PM | 16h 05m |
| July | 4:39 AM | 5:19 AM | 6:06 AM | 8:14 PM | 9:01 PM | 9:41 PM | 15h 43m |
| August | 5:24 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 21m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 37m |
| October | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:07 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:47 PM | 10h 52m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:37 PM | 4:26 PM | 5:00 PM | 9h 14m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:49 AM | 8:43 AM | 3:16 PM | 4:10 PM | 4:46 PM | 8h 21m |
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 Agnes Gorge Trail, 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| 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 | 3:52 AM – 4:12 AM | 0.3 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:47 AM – 2:47 AM | 1.0 | 12° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:41 AM – 1:21 AM | 0.7 | 13° | S → S |
| July | 11:54 PM – 12:34 AM | 0.7 | 12° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:27 PM – 10:37 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.75 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 42% average cloud cover) and November as the cloudiest (76%). August 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 | 45 | 47 | 56 | 68 | 78 | 87 | 87 | 89 | 85 | 76 | 54 | 43 |
| Low °F | -24 | -23 | -15 | -1 | 15 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 22 | 2 | -20 | -20 |
| Precip. (in) | 5.3 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
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 canyon
- Dust and sand are hard on gear; change lenses in a bag or with your back to the wind.
- A long lens on a tripod handles the low light inside canyons better than raising ISO.
- From the rim, sunrise and sunset side-light reveals layers; a telephoto picks out buttes and shadows.
- In narrow canyons, reflected light creates orange and purple glows; avoid including bright sky in the frame.
- Check flash flood forecasts before entering slot or narrow canyons — rain miles away can flood them.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; summer monsoon storms bring dramatic skies but higher flood risk in the Southwest.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Wide and telephoto lenses, Lens blower, Weather radio or app. 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 Agnes Gorge Trail, closest first.
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
Glacier
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Glacier
Glacier
GlacierCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Harlequin Campground10.0 km (6.2 mi) · reservable
- Mineral Park Campground26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Lucerne Campground27 km (17 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Agnes Gorge Trail?
What time is golden hour at Agnes Gorge Trail?
Where does the sun rise and set at Agnes Gorge Trail?
Can you see the Milky Way from Agnes Gorge Trail?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Agnes Gorge Trail?
How far is Agnes Gorge Trail from Darrington?
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.