Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests — a national forest in Greenlee County, Arizona — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Eagar, about 53 km (33 mi) away (Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests lies S of town).
The Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests is a 2.76-million-acre (11,169 km2) United States national forest which runs along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in east-central Arizona and into the U.S. state of New Mexico. Formerly two forests, it is currently managed as one unit by USDA Forest Service from the Forest Supervisors Office in Springerville, Arizona. Apache–Sitgreaves has over 400 species of wildlife. With its high elevation and cool summer breezes it is a popular weekend destination from the hot desert for Phoenix, Arizona, residents. The forest is divided into 5 Ranger Districts (Clifton, Alpine, Springerville, Lakeside, and Black Mesa) that span almost 300 miles (480 km) from Clifton, Arizona in the east-central portion of Arizona to the eastern boundary of the Coconino National Forest in north-central Arizona. The Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest borders the...From the Wikipedia article “Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests 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 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:22 AM | 90° E | 6:29 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:08 AM | 61° ENE | 7:31 PM | 299° WNW | 80° | 14h 23m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:06 AM | 89° E | 6:15 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:19 AM | 118° ESE | 5:14 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 55m |
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
Forests suit soft light — overcast days reduce contrast under the canopy, and morning fog adds depth.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:55 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:59 PM | 10h 10m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:02 PM | 6:28 PM | 11h 00m |
| March | 6:04 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:50 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:22 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:14 PM | 13h 01m |
| May | 4:50 AM | 5:17 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:39 PM | 13h 54m |
| June | 4:38 AM | 5:07 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:59 PM | 14h 22m |
| July | 4:50 AM | 5:18 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:29 PM | 7:57 PM | 14h 11m |
| August | 5:14 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:31 PM | 13h 25m |
| September | 5:36 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:34 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:50 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 5:57 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:56 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:10 PM | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 26m |
| December | 6:48 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:39 PM | 9h 56m |
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 Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests, 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 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:56 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:58 AM – 4:58 AM | 2.0 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:06 AM – 4:16 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 11:08 PM – 3:38 AM | 4.5 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:14 PM – 3:14 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:10 PM – 1:50 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:36 PM – 11:46 PM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 7:49 PM – 9:49 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:07 PM – 7:47 PM | 0.7 | 17° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.9 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and July 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 | 68 | 71 | 78 | 85 | 97 | 101 | 103 | 98 | 96 | 86 | 76 | 69 |
| Low °F | -13 | 1 | 12 | 20 | 26 | 40 | 52 | 51 | 35 | 21 | 14 | -7 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
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 national forest
- Fall color peaks vary by elevation; follow it downhill over several weeks.
- Dispersed camping is often allowed, which makes sunrise and night shoots easier — check local rules.
- Forest roads can close in winter or after storms; download offline maps.
- Fire restrictions may limit campfires and stoves in summer.
- Look for fire lookouts and high roads for views over the canopy.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
Season: Autumn color and spring flowers draw photographers; winter brings snow-covered forests in the North and West.
Suggested gear: Polarizer, Tripod, Offline maps, Insect repellent. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Recreational drones are generally allowed in national forests outside designated wilderness, subject to FAA rules and temporary flight restrictions — wildfire TFRs are common in summer.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
WaterfallScenic Viewpoint
Hot Spring
LakeScenic Viewpoint
Lake
Mountain Peak
Dark Sky PlaceCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Caldwell Cabin14.3 km (8.9 mi) · reservable
- Buffalo Crossing Campground18.3 km (11.4 mi)
- Honeymoon Campground25 km (16 mi)
- Apache Trout Campground28 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Grayling29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests?
What time is golden hour at Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests?
Where does the sun rise and set at Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests?
Can you see the Milky Way from Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests?
How far is Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests from Eagar?
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.