1. Home
  2. Cities
  3. Minnesota
  4. Inver Grove Heights
44.8480° N93.0427° W268 mBortle 7Chicago

Sunrise, Sunset & Golden Hour in Inver Grove Heights, MN

Dakota County, Minnesota · pop. 34,857

  • Sunrise 7:35 AM
  • Sunset 6:20 PM
  • Bortle 7

Inver Grove Heights is a city of about 34,857 people in Dakota County, Minnesota, at 268 m (879 ft). Today the sun rises at 7:35 AM and sets at 6:20 PM; the evening golden hour runs 5:40 PM – 6:39 PM. Below are monthly times, sun directions, the best photo locations within 80 km and the nearest dark skies.

Light at Inver Grove Heights

Live
Sunrise
7:35 AM
Sunset
6:20 PM
Golden hour AM
7:16 AM – 8:15 AM
Golden hour PM
5:40 PM – 6:39 PM
Blue hour AM
7:05 AM – 7:16 AM
Blue hour PM
6:39 PM – 6:50 PM
Full darkness
7:58 PM – 5:58 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:50 PM / 1:17 AM
Day length
10h 46m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour by month

Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:47 AM8:33 AM4:11 PM4:57 PM5:30 PM9h 10m
February7:14 AM7:55 AM4:59 PM5:41 PM6:11 PM10h 27m
March7:26 AM8:04 AM6:40 PM7:18 PM7:47 PM11h 53m
April6:28 AM7:08 AM7:18 PM7:57 PM8:28 PM13h 29m
May5:44 AM6:27 AM7:52 PM8:34 PM9:08 PM14h 50m
June5:26 AM6:11 AM8:16 PM9:01 PM9:38 PM15h 34m
July5:41 AM6:25 AM8:13 PM8:57 PM9:32 PM15h 16m
August6:15 AM6:55 AM7:40 PM8:20 PM8:52 PM14h 05m
September6:52 AM7:30 AM6:46 PM7:25 PM7:54 PM12h 33m
October7:28 AM8:08 AM5:49 PM6:29 PM6:58 PM11h 01m
November7:10 AM7:55 AM4:01 PM4:45 PM5:17 PM9h 35m
December7:44 AM8:32 AM3:44 PM4:32 PM5:06 PM8h 49m

Local time in America/Chicago, daylight saving time included.

Where the sun rises and sets in Inver Grove Heights

At Inver Grove Heights the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice

Best photo spots near Inver Grove Heights

53 photo locations lie within 80 km of Inver Grove Heights. Each links to a full planning page with sunrise and sunset directions.

Scenic Viewpoints

Scenic Viewpoint
Overlook Lake Park24 km away · Hennepin County · 239 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point32 km away · Washington County · 204 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point40 km away · Hennepin County · 288 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Taylor Falls Overlook - South69 km away · Chisago County · 232 m

Waterfalls

Saint Anthony FallsWaterfall
Saint Anthony Falls23 km away · Hennepin County · 241 m
Waterfall
Hidden Falls14 km away · Hennepin County
Minnehaha FallsWaterfall
Minnehaha Falls15 km away · Hennepin County · 247 m
Waterfall
Shadow Falls16 km away · Ramsey County · 255 m
Waterfall
Apple River Falls43 km away · Saint Croix County · 226 m
Waterfall
Cascade Falls (Osceola)62 km away · Saint Croix County

State Parks

Fort Snelling State ParkState Park
Fort Snelling State Park11 km away · Dakota County
Afton State ParkState Park
Afton State Park20 km away · Washington County
Kinnickinnic State ParkState Park
Kinnickinnic State Park23 km away · Pierce County
Willow River State ParkState Park
Willow River State Park34 km away · Saint Croix County
William O'Brien State ParkState Park
William O'Brien State Park47 km away · Washington County
Nerstrand Big Woods State ParkState Park
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park56 km away · Rice County

Lakes

Lake PhalenLake
Lake Phalen15 km away · Ramsey County · 262 m
Lake NokomisLake
Lake Nokomis17 km away · Hennepin County · 248 m
Como LakeLake
Como Lake16 km away · Ramsey County · 269 m
Lake HiawathaLake
Lake Hiawatha17 km away · Hennepin County · 248 m
Black Dog LakeLake
Black Dog Lake18 km away · Dakota County · 212 m
Powderhorn LakeLake
Powderhorn Lake20 km away · Hennepin County · 249 m

Beaches

Beach
Cedar Lake East Beach25 km away · Hennepin County

Botanical Gardens

Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)Botanical Garden
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)16 km away · Ramsey County
Como Park Zoo and ConservatoryBotanical Garden
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory17 km away · Ramsey County
University of Minnesota Landscape ArboretumBotanical Garden
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum45 km away · Carver County

Night sky, Milky Way & aurora

The sky over central Inver Grove Heights is estimated at Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition). The nearest truly dark location in our database is St. Croix State Park, about 130 km (81 mi) away (Bortle 2). The Milky Way core is up during darkness from April to September, best in June. Northern lights need roughly Kp 4.5+ to appear low on the northern horizon here.

Darkest skies within 200 km

LocationTypeDistanceEst. Bortle
St. Croix State ParkState Park130 km (81 mi)2
Red Cedar LakeLake142 km (88 mi)2
Dorothy Lake State Natural AreaLake143 km (89 mi)2
Father Hennepin State ParkState Park148 km (92 mi)2
Brunet Island State ParkState Park152 km (94 mi)2
Mille Lacs National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge152 km (95 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park152 km (95 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio Observation TowerFire Lookout153 km (95 mi)2
MonthMilky Way core window (15th)HoursMax altitude
March5:16 AM – 5:36 AM0.312°
April3:14 AM – 4:34 AM1.316°
May1:11 AM – 3:31 AM2.316°
June11:30 PM – 2:50 AM3.316°
July11:15 PM – 1:35 AM2.316°
August10:14 PM – 11:34 PM1.315°
September9:05 PM – 9:35 PM0.512°

Cloud cover by month

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (69%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

FAQ

What time is golden hour in Inver Grove Heights today?
Today the morning golden hour is 7:16 AM – 8:15 AM and the evening golden hour is 5:40 PM – 6:39 PM (local time). The live widget at the top updates automatically and lets you pick any date.
What time is sunset in Inver Grove Heights in October?
Around the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:29 PM and blue hour ends around 6:58 PM.
When is the latest sunset in Inver Grove Heights?
Sunset is latest in late June — about 9:03 PM — and earliest in December, around 4:34 PM.
Where can I watch the sunset near Inver Grove Heights?
Good options nearby include Lake Phalen, Como Lake, Lake Nokomis. Check each page's sunset azimuth to see whether the sun sets in view.
Can you see the Milky Way from Inver Grove Heights?
Not well from the city center (estimated Bortle 7). Drive to St. Croix State Park (130 km (81 mi)) for dark skies.
Can you see the northern lights in Inver Grove Heights?
Occasionally. Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5 or higher to show on the northern horizon at this geomagnetic latitude (53°). Cameras pick it up before your eyes do.