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32.7503° N110.2510° WBortle 3Phoenix

Crook National Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Graham County, Arizona

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 243°–299°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Crook National Forest is a national forest in Graham County, Arizona. It sits roughly 37 km (23 mi) E of Mammoth.

Crook National Forest was established in Arizona by the U.S. Forest Service on July 1, 1908, with 788,624 acres (3,191.45 km2) from portions of Tonto National Forest, Mount Graham National Forest, and other lands. On July 1, 1953, Crook was divided among Tonto, Gila, and Coronado National Forests.From the Wikipedia article “Crook National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Mammoth
37 km (23 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
June
21% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:16 PM
sunset 5:49 PM

Light at Crook National Forest

Live
Sunrise
6:30 AM
Sunset
5:44 PM
Golden hour AM
6:15 AM – 7:03 AM
Golden hour PM
5:10 PM – 5:59 PM
Blue hour AM
6:05 AM – 6:15 AM
Blue hour PM
5:59 PM – 6:09 PM
Full darkness
7:06 PM – 5:08 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
2:40 PM / 12:56 AM
Day length
11h 14m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Phoenix. 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 Crook National Forest 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 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:26 AM90° E6:33 PM271° W57°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:14 AM61° ENE7:33 PM299° WNW81°14h 19m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:10 AM89° E6:19 PM271° W58°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:20 AM118° ESE5:20 PM243° WSW34°9h 59m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:57 AM7:24 AM8:01 AM5:01 PM5:38 PM6:05 PM10h 14m
February6:40 AM7:05 AM7:39 AM5:33 PM6:07 PM6:32 PM11h 02m
March6:08 AM6:32 AM7:05 AM5:57 PM6:29 PM6:54 PM11h 57m
April5:27 AM5:52 AM6:25 AM6:18 PM6:51 PM7:17 PM12h 59m
May4:56 AM5:23 AM5:58 AM6:39 PM7:13 PM7:41 PM13h 50m
June4:45 AM5:13 AM5:50 AM6:55 PM7:31 PM8:00 PM14h 18m
July4:56 AM5:24 AM6:00 AM6:55 PM7:31 PM7:59 PM14h 06m
August5:19 AM5:45 AM6:19 AM6:34 PM7:07 PM7:33 PM13h 22m
September5:41 AM6:06 AM6:38 AM5:56 PM6:29 PM6:53 PM12h 23m
October6:01 AM6:26 AM6:59 AM5:16 PM5:49 PM6:14 PM11h 24m
November6:26 AM6:52 AM7:28 AM4:45 PM5:21 PM5:47 PM10h 29m
December6:50 AM7:17 AM7:54 AM4:40 PM5:17 PM5:45 PM10h 00m

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 Crook National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° 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—1°—
February4:50 AM – 5:40 AM0.817°SE → SE
March3:01 AM – 5:01 AM2.025°SE → SSE
April12:57 AM – 4:17 AM3.328°SE → S
May10:58 PM – 3:38 AM4.728°SE → SSW
June9:13 PM – 3:23 AM6.228°SE → SW
July9:09 PM – 1:59 AM4.828°SSE → SW
August8:37 PM – 11:57 PM3.328°S → SW
September7:52 PM – 10:02 PM2.225°SSW → SW
October7:11 PM – 8:01 PM0.817°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
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 ≈ 21.68 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 21% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F76839097106111108107104988977
Low °F181522323849646149302021
Precip. (in)1.11.10.60.40.10.22.52.21.30.60.71.1

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

  • Fire restrictions may limit campfires and stoves in summer.
  • Look for fire lookouts and high roads for views over the canopy.
  • 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.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

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 Crook National Forest, closest first.

KlondykeGhost Town
Klondyke12 km away · Graham County
Galiuro WildernessWilderness Area
Galiuro Wilderness20 km away · Graham County
Scenic Viewpoint
West Peak Fire Lookout Tower20 km away · Graham County
Fire Lookout
West Peak Lookout Tower20 km away · Graham County
Copper CreekGhost Town
Copper Creek21 km away · Pinal County
Natural Arch
Hell Hole26 km away · Pinal County
Aravaipa Canyon WildernessWilderness Area
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness28 km away · Pinal County
Scenic Viewpoint
Webb Peak Fire Lookout Tower31 km away · Graham County
Fire Lookout
Webb Peak Lookout Tower31 km away · Graham County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Crook National Forest?
June 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. Autumn color and spring flowers draw photographers; winter brings snow-covered forests in the North and West.
What time is golden hour at Crook National Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:16 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:49 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 6:59 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Crook National Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 243°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Crook National Forest?
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 Crook National Forest?
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 Crook National Forest from Mammoth?
About 37 km (23 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.