Lake Vernon — a lake in Tuolumne County, California at about 2,002 m (6,568 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Yosemite National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 33 km (20 mi) NNW of Yosemite Valley.
Lake Vernon is located in the Tiltill Valley in the northern sector of Yosemite National Park just north of Hetch Hetchy Valley. The surface elevation of the lake is 6,568 ft (2,002 m). Due to the remote location of the lake, it is usually only accessed as a backpacking destination. The area surrounding the lake was once home to a band of Sierra Miwok Indians, and numerous artifacts can be found in the area. Lake Vernon is the source of Falls Creek, which feeds Wapama Falls.From the Wikipedia article “Lake Vernon”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lake Vernon the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:37 AM | 59° ENE | 8:26 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 48m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:12 AM | 120° ESE | 4:43 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 31m |
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
Lakes reflect best in calm air — usually the first hour after sunrise, before breezes ripple the surface.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:46 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:32 PM | 9h 49m |
| February | 6:23 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 48m |
| March | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:32 PM | 14h 14m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 47m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 33m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:35 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:42 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:16 PM | 10h 08m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 33m |
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 Lake Vernon, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:57 AM – 5:17 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:09 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:08 AM – 3:58 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:20 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:13 PM – 2:13 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:32 PM – 12:12 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:38 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:50 PM – 8:10 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.63 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 20% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (60%). 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 | 61 | 66 | 71 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 98 | 93 | 92 | 83 | 71 | 62 |
| Low °F | -3 | -6 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 22 | 37 | 34 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
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 lake
- Include shoreline rocks, reeds or a log as foreground to give the reflection depth.
- Expose for the brighter sky; reflections are typically half a stop to a stop darker.
- After sunset, long exposures smooth wind ripples into glass.
- For mirror reflections, get low and close to the water; the reflection grows with a lower camera.
- A polarizer can remove reflections to show the lakebed — or keep them, depending on rotation.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Autumn mornings bring mist and fall color; high-elevation lakes are usually ice-free only from early summer to mid-autumn.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, Wide-angle lens, Waterproof boots. 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 Lake Vernon, closest first.
Waterfall
Waterfall
WaterfallWaterfall
Mountain Peak
Lake
Scenic Viewpoint
Canyon
Wilderness AreaCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Cherry Valley17.2 km (10.7 mi) · reservable
- White Wolf Campground17.2 km (10.7 mi) · reservable
- Yosemite Creek Campground24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Dimond O24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Porcupine Flat Campground27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lake Vernon?
What time is golden hour at Lake Vernon?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lake Vernon?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lake Vernon?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lake Vernon?
How far is Lake Vernon from Yosemite Valley?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, Wikipedia. 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.