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34.8470° N84.5172° W957 mBortle 3New York

Sassafras Gap Photography Guide

Mountain Pass in Gilmer County, Georgia · 957 m (3,140 ft)

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Sassafras Gap is a mountain pass in Gilmer County, Georgia at about 957 m (3,140 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 17.2 km (10.7 mi) N of Ellijay.

Elevation
957 m
3,140 ft
Nearest town
Ellijay
17.2 km (10.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
October
45% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:31 PM
sunset 7:05 PM

Light at Sassafras Gap

Live
Sunrise
7:49 AM
Sunset
6:58 PM
Golden hour AM
7:33 AM – 8:23 AM
Golden hour PM
6:24 PM – 7:14 PM
Blue hour AM
7:23 AM – 7:33 AM
Blue hour PM
7:14 PM – 7:24 PM
Full darkness
8:23 PM – 6:25 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:57 PM / 2:05 AM
Day length
11h 10m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. 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 Sassafras Gap the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (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)7:43 AM90° E7:50 PM271° W55°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:26 AM60° ENE8:56 PM300° WNW79°14h 30m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:27 AM89° E7:37 PM271° W55°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:43 AM118° ESE5:31 PM242° WSW32°9h 49m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:18 AM7:46 AM8:24 AM5:12 PM5:50 PM6:18 PM10h 04m
February6:59 AM7:25 AM8:00 AM5:46 PM6:21 PM6:47 PM10h 57m
March7:24 AM7:50 AM8:23 AM7:13 PM7:46 PM8:11 PM11h 56m
April6:41 AM7:07 AM7:41 AM7:37 PM8:10 PM8:36 PM13h 04m
May6:08 AM6:36 AM7:12 AM7:59 PM8:35 PM9:03 PM13h 59m
June5:55 AM6:25 AM7:02 AM8:17 PM8:54 PM9:24 PM14h 29m
July6:07 AM6:36 AM7:13 AM8:16 PM8:53 PM9:22 PM14h 17m
August6:32 AM6:59 AM7:34 AM7:53 PM8:28 PM8:55 PM13h 29m
September6:56 AM7:22 AM7:55 AM7:13 PM7:47 PM8:12 PM12h 25m
October7:19 AM7:44 AM8:18 AM6:31 PM7:05 PM7:30 PM11h 20m
November6:46 AM7:13 AM7:50 AM4:57 PM5:34 PM6:01 PM10h 21m
December7:11 AM7:39 AM8:18 AM4:50 PM5:29 PM5:57 PM9h 50m

Local time (America/New York), 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 Sassafras Gap, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:16 AM – 5:56 AM0.716°SE → SE
March4:30 AM – 6:20 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April2:29 AM – 5:29 AM3.026°SE → S
May12:33 AM – 4:53 AM4.326°SE → SSW
June10:40 PM – 4:30 AM5.826°SE → SW
July10:35 PM – 3:05 AM4.526°SSE → SW
August10:00 PM – 1:10 AM3.226°S → SW
September9:12 PM – 11:02 PM1.823°SSW → SW
October8:29 PM – 9:09 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.51 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (63%). 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 °F7175838592107104102100978474
Low °F2620213348525238251712
Precip. (in)4.35.14.74.34.34.54.84.14.13.74.25.5

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.
  • Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
  • 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 Sassafras Gap, closest first.

Mountain Pass
Crenshaw Gap2.0 km away · Fannin County · 954 m
Mountain Pass
Halloway Gap2.5 km away · Gilmer County · 987 m
Mountain Pass
Buddy Cove Gap3.5 km away · Fannin County · 967 m
Mountain Pass
Polecat Gap3.7 km away · Fannin County · 1,013 m
Mountain Pass
Long Gap3.9 km away · Fannin County · 921 m
Mountain Pass
Hickorynut Gap4.3 km away · Gilmer County · 922 m
Mountain Pass
Rich Cove Gap4.6 km away · Fannin County · 986 m
Mountain Pass
Poplar Springs Gap5.7 km away · Fannin County · 992 m
Mountain Pass
Sam Jones Gap5.8 km away · Fannin County · 981 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Sassafras Gap?
October 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. Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
What time is golden hour at Sassafras Gap?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:31 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:05 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:18 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Sassafras Gap?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° 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 Sassafras Gap?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sassafras Gap?
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 Sassafras Gap from Ellijay?
About 17.2 km (10.7 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.