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34.1251° N109.9487° WBortle 5Phoenix

Woodland Lake Trail Photography Guide

Covered Bridge in Navajo County, Arizona

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Woodland Lake Trail — a covered bridge in Navajo County, Arizona — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Pinetop-Lakeside, about 2.2 km (1.4 mi) away (Woodland Lake Trail lies SSE of town).

Nearest town
Pinetop-Lakeside
2.2 km (1.4 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
June
27% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:13 PM
sunset 5:47 PM

Light at Woodland Lake Trail

Live
Sunrise
6:30 AM
Sunset
5:41 PM
Golden hour AM
6:14 AM – 7:04 AM
Golden hour PM
5:07 PM – 5:56 PM
Blue hour AM
6:04 AM – 6:14 AM
Blue hour PM
5:56 PM – 6:06 PM
Full darkness
7:04 PM – 5:07 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
2:41 PM / 12:52 AM
Day length
11h 11m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Phoenix. 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 directions

At Woodland Lake Trail the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:24 AM90° E6:32 PM271° W56°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:09 AM61° ENE7:35 PM300° WNW79°14h 26m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:09 AM89° E6:18 PM271° W56°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:22 AM118° ESE5:15 PM242° WSW32°9h 52m

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

Covered bridges look their best with soft side-light and a backdrop of fall color, snow or fresh spring green.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:59 AM7:26 AM8:03 AM4:56 PM5:34 PM6:01 PM10h 08m
February6:40 AM7:06 AM7:40 AM5:30 PM6:04 PM6:30 PM10h 58m
March6:06 AM6:31 AM7:04 AM5:55 PM6:28 PM6:53 PM11h 57m
April5:24 AM5:49 AM6:23 AM6:18 PM6:51 PM7:17 PM13h 02m
May4:51 AM5:19 AM5:54 AM6:40 PM7:15 PM7:43 PM13h 56m
June4:39 AM5:09 AM5:46 AM6:57 PM7:34 PM8:03 PM14h 25m
July4:51 AM5:20 AM5:56 AM6:57 PM7:33 PM8:01 PM14h 13m
August5:16 AM5:42 AM6:16 AM6:34 PM7:08 PM7:35 PM13h 26m
September5:39 AM6:04 AM6:37 AM5:55 PM6:28 PM6:53 PM12h 24m
October6:00 AM6:26 AM6:59 AM5:13 PM5:47 PM6:12 PM11h 21m
November6:27 AM6:53 AM7:30 AM4:41 PM5:17 PM5:44 PM10h 24m
December6:51 AM7:19 AM7:57 AM4:34 PM5:13 PM5:40 PM9h 54m

Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Woodland Lake Trail, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:58 AM – 5:38 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:12 AM – 5:02 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April1:10 AM – 4:10 AM3.027°SE → S
May11:13 PM – 3:33 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June9:19 PM – 3:19 AM6.027°SE → SW
July9:15 PM – 1:55 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August8:40 PM – 11:50 PM3.227°S → SW
September7:53 PM – 9:53 PM2.024°SSW → SW
October7:10 PM – 7:50 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.38 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 27% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (58%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F66717986961001019894877769
Low °F-2-11420253650493315100
Precip. (in)0.80.80.60.50.50.42.52.41.40.80.71.0

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 covered bridge

  • Many covered bridges still carry traffic; stay off the roadway and watch for vehicles.
  • Overcast days keep contrast low between the dark interior and the bright surroundings.
  • Autumn foliage peaks are the most popular time — visit on weekdays to avoid crowds.
  • Shoot from the stream bank to show the bridge, the water and its reflection together.
  • Inside the bridge, the timber trusses make strong symmetrical compositions — use a tripod for long exposures.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

Season: Peak fall color is the classic season; winter snow and spring blossoms are less crowded alternatives.

Suggested gear: Wide-angle lens, Tripod, Polarizer for foliage. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Woodland Lake Trail, closest first.

Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge0.0 km away · Navajo County
Scenic Viewpoint
Springer Mountain Lookout Tower2.5 km away · Navajo County
Scenic Viewpoint
Pat Mullen Scenic Vista6.7 km away · Navajo County
Scenic Viewpoint
Show Low Meadow15 km away · Navajo County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Woodland Lake Trail?
June has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Peak fall color is the classic season; winter snow and spring blossoms are less crowded alternatives.
What time is golden hour at Woodland Lake Trail?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:13 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:47 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 6:59 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Woodland Lake Trail?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Woodland Lake Trail?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Woodland Lake Trail?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Woodland Lake Trail from Pinetop-Lakeside?
About 2.2 km (1.4 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.