Located in Los Angeles County, California, Escondido Summit is a mountain pass. It sits roughly 6.4 km (4.0 mi) NW of Acton.
Escondido Summit, elevation 3,258 ft (993 m), is a mountain pass in northern Los Angeles County, California. It is located at the highest point along California Highway 14, which crests in the foothills of the Sierra Pelona Mountains just 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of Acton, California.From the Wikipedia article “Escondido Summit”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Escondido Summit 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:57 AM | 90° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:42 AM | 61° ENE | 8:10 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 28m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:42 AM | 89° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:57 AM | 118° ESE | 4:47 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 51m |
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
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:33 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:33 PM | 10h 06m |
| February | 6:14 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:14 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 58m |
| March | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:56 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:56 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:51 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:17 PM | 13h 58m |
| June | 5:11 AM | 5:41 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 27m |
| July | 5:23 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 15m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:09 PM | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:34 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:20 PM | 6:45 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:01 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:16 PM | 10h 22m |
| December | 6:25 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 52m |
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 Escondido Summit, 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 6 (bright 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:31 AM – 5:11 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:45 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:43 AM – 4:43 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 11:47 PM – 4:07 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:54 PM – 3:54 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:49 PM – 2:29 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:14 PM – 12:24 AM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:26 PM – 10:16 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:43 PM – 8:23 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.43 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 14% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (42%). 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 | 80 | 84 | 87 | 93 | 99 | 109 | 110 | 107 | 112 | 101 | 89 | 80 |
| Low °F | 24 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 36 | 42 | 50 | 51 | 43 | 35 | 27 | 24 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
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 mountain pass
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Warm layers, Road-condition app. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Escondido Summit, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Mountain Pass
Mountain PassMountain Pass
National Forest
State Park
Lake
CanyonCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Lightning Point Group Campground15.9 km (9.9 mi) · reservable
- Streamside Campground17.0 km (10.6 mi)
- Zuni Campground18.2 km (11.3 mi)
- Bandido Group Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Meadow Group Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Escondido Summit?
What time is golden hour at Escondido Summit?
Where does the sun rise and set at Escondido Summit?
Can you see the Milky Way from Escondido Summit?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Escondido Summit?
How far is Escondido Summit from Acton?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.