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Flag of South Saint Paul
44.8927° N93.0349° W219 mBortle 8Chicago

Sunrise, Sunset & Golden Hour in South Saint Paul, MN

Dakota County, Minnesota · pop. 20,160

  • Sunrise 7:35 AM
  • Sunset 6:20 PM
  • Bortle 8

South Saint Paul is a city of about 20,160 people in Dakota County, Minnesota, at 219 m (719 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 South Saint Paul

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 AM8:34 AM4:11 PM4:57 PM5:30 PM9h 10m
February7:14 AM7:55 AM4:59 PM5:40 PM6:11 PM10h 27m
March7:26 AM8:04 AM6:39 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 PM9:09 PM14h 50m
June5:26 AM6:11 AM8:16 PM9:01 PM9:38 PM15h 35m
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 48m

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

Where the sun rises and sets in South Saint Paul

At South Saint Paul 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 South Saint Paul

54 photo locations lie within 80 km of South Saint Paul. Each links to a full planning page with sunrise and sunset directions.

Scenic Viewpoints

Scenic Viewpoint
Overlook Lake Park26 km away · Hennepin County · 239 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point28 km away · Washington County · 204 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point40 km away · Hennepin County · 288 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Taylor Falls Overlook - South64 km away · Chisago County · 232 m

Waterfalls

Saint Anthony FallsWaterfall
Saint Anthony Falls20 km away · Hennepin County · 241 m
Waterfall
Hidden Falls13 km away · Hennepin County
Minnehaha FallsWaterfall
Minnehaha Falls14 km away · Hennepin County · 247 m
Waterfall
Shadow Falls14 km away · Ramsey County · 255 m
Waterfall
Apple River Falls39 km away · Saint Croix County · 226 m
Waterfall
Cascade Falls (Osceola)59 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 Park31 km away · Saint Croix County
William O'Brien State ParkState Park
William O'Brien State Park42 km away · Washington County
Minnesota Valley State Recreation AreaState Park
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area59 km away · Scott County

Lakes

Lake PhalenLake
Lake Phalen10 km away · Ramsey County · 262 m
Como LakeLake
Como Lake13 km away · Ramsey County · 269 m
Lake NokomisLake
Lake Nokomis16 km away · Hennepin County · 248 m
Bennett LakeLake
Bennett Lake16 km away · Ramsey County · 270 m
Lake HiawathaLake
Lake Hiawatha16 km away · Hennepin County · 248 m
Powderhorn LakeLake
Powderhorn Lake18 km away · Hennepin County · 249 m

Beaches

Beach
Cedar Lake East Beach24 km away · Hennepin County

Botanical Gardens

Como Park Zoo and ConservatoryBotanical Garden
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory13 km away · Ramsey County
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)Botanical Garden
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)12 km away · Ramsey County
University of Minnesota Landscape ArboretumBotanical Garden
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum46 km away · Carver County

Night sky, Milky Way & aurora

The sky over central South Saint Paul is estimated at Bortle 8 (city sky). The nearest truly dark location in our database is St. Croix State Park, about 125 km (78 mi) away (Bortle 2). The Milky Way core is up during darkness from April to August, 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 Park125 km (78 mi)2
Red Cedar LakeLake138 km (86 mi)2
Dorothy Lake State Natural AreaLake141 km (88 mi)2
Father Hennepin State ParkState Park144 km (89 mi)2
Mille Lacs National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge148 km (92 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park148 km (92 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio Observation TowerFire Lookout148 km (92 mi)2
Brunet Island State ParkState Park150 km (93 mi)2
MonthMilky Way core window (15th)HoursMax altitude
March5:16 AM – 5:36 AM0.312°
April3:15 AM – 4:35 AM1.315°
May1:13 AM – 3:23 AM2.216°
June11:34 PM – 2:44 AM3.216°
July11:18 PM – 1:28 AM2.216°
August10:15 PM – 11:25 PM1.215°
September9:05 PM – 9:25 PM0.312°

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 South Saint Paul 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 South Saint Paul 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 South Saint Paul?
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 South Saint Paul?
Good options nearby include Lake Phalen, Como Lake, Lake Hiawatha. Check each page's sunset azimuth to see whether the sun sets in view.
Can you see the Milky Way from South Saint Paul?
Not well from the city center (estimated Bortle 8). Drive to St. Croix State Park (125 km (78 mi)) for dark skies.
Can you see the northern lights in South Saint Paul?
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.