Ontario Hot Springs — a hot spring in San Luis Obispo County, California — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Avila Beach, about 2.6 km (1.6 mi) away (Ontario Hot Springs lies E of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Ontario Hot Springs the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 60° ENE | 8:21 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 32m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:52 AM | 89° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:08 AM | 119° ESE | 4:55 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 47m |
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
Steam is most visible on cold mornings; backlight from a low sun makes rising steam glow.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 03m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:46 PM | 6:12 PM | 10h 56m |
| March | 6:49 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:36 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:05 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:29 PM | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:19 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 31m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 18m |
| August | 5:57 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:21 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:37 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:44 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:54 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:25 PM | 10h 20m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 48m |
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 Ontario Hot Springs, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:51 AM – 5:21 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:55 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:55 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:00 AM – 4:10 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:07 PM – 3:57 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:03 PM – 2:33 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:26 PM – 12:26 AM | 3.0 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:27 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:33 PM | 0.7 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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 ≈ 20.49 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 18% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (48%). 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 | 81 | 78 | 84 | 95 | 98 | 105 | 106 | 105 | 109 | 100 | 89 | 78 |
| Low °F | 25 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 40 | 43 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 30 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.6 |
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 hot spring
- Keep to boardwalks and marked paths — crusts around thermal features can be thin and the water dangerously hot.
- A polarizer brings out the colors of mineral terraces and microbial mats.
- Respect bathers' privacy: ask before including people at soaking pools.
- Wind direction determines where steam drifts; shoot from the upwind side to see the pool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Winter gives the most dramatic steam; some primitive springs are only accessible in summer.
Suggested gear: Circular polarizer, Lens cloth, Telephoto for distant pools. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Ontario Hot Springs, closest first.
Natural Arch
Lighthouse
State Park
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Botanical Garden
State Park
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ontario Hot Springs?
What time is golden hour at Ontario Hot Springs?
Where does the sun rise and set at Ontario Hot Springs?
Can you see the Milky Way from Ontario Hot Springs?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Ontario Hot Springs?
How far is Ontario Hot Springs from Avila Beach?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.