Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) in fall color on the North Kaibab Ranger District. Please give credit to: U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab Nat
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36.4125° N112.1350° WBortle 1Phoenix

Kaibab National Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Coconino County, Arizona

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–300°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Kaibab National Forest · Public domain · source

Kaibab National Forest is a national forest in Coconino County, Arizona. It sits roughly 40 km (25 mi) N of Grand Canyon.

Kaibab National Forest (, KY-bab) borders both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, in north-central Arizona, United States. Its 1.6 million acres (650,000 ha) is divided into three sections: the North Kaibab Ranger District (offices in Fredonia), the Tusayan Ranger District (offices in the Grand Canyon), and the Williams Ranger District (offices in Williams). It is managed by the United States Forest Service. Grand Canyon National Park separates the North Kaibab and the South Kaibab (Tusayan and Williams). The South Kaibab covers less than 1,422 square miles (3,680 km2) and the North Kaibab stretches over 1,010 square miles (2,600 km2). Elevations vary on the forest from 5,500 feet (1,676 m) in the southwest corner to 10,418 feet (3,175 m) at the summit of Kendrick Peak on the Williams Ranger District. The forest as a whole is headquartered in Williams.From the Wikipedia article “Kaibab National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Grand Canyon
40 km (25 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
June
26% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:19 PM
sunset 5:54 PM

Light at Kaibab National Forest

Live
Sunrise
6:41 AM
Sunset
5:47 PM
Golden hour AM
6:25 AM – 7:16 AM
Golden hour PM
5:12 PM – 6:03 PM
Blue hour AM
6:15 AM – 6:25 AM
Blue hour PM
6:03 PM – 6:13 PM
Full darkness
7:13 PM – 5:16 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
2:53 PM / 12:57 AM
Day length
11h 06m
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 Kaibab National Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:33 AM90° E6:41 PM271° W53°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:12 AM60° ENE7:50 PM300° WNW77°14h 39m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:17 AM89° E6:27 PM271° W54°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:37 AM119° ESE5:18 PM241° WSW30°9h 40m

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
January7:12 AM7:40 AM8:19 AM4:58 PM5:37 PM6:05 PM9h 57m
February6:51 AM7:17 AM7:53 AM5:34 PM6:10 PM6:36 PM10h 53m
March6:15 AM6:40 AM7:14 AM6:02 PM6:36 PM7:02 PM11h 56m
April5:29 AM5:56 AM6:30 AM6:28 PM7:03 PM7:29 PM13h 07m
May4:54 AM5:23 AM5:59 AM6:52 PM7:29 PM7:58 PM14h 06m
June4:41 AM5:11 AM5:49 AM7:11 PM7:49 PM8:19 PM14h 38m
July4:53 AM5:23 AM6:00 AM7:10 PM7:47 PM8:17 PM14h 24m
August5:20 AM5:47 AM6:22 AM6:45 PM7:21 PM7:48 PM13h 33m
September5:46 AM6:12 AM6:46 AM6:04 PM6:38 PM7:03 PM12h 26m
October6:10 AM6:36 AM7:11 AM5:19 PM5:54 PM6:20 PM11h 17m
November6:39 AM7:07 AM7:44 AM4:44 PM5:21 PM5:49 PM10h 15m
December7:05 AM7:34 AM8:14 AM4:35 PM5:15 PM5:44 PM9h 42m

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 Kaibab National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:17 AM – 5:47 AM0.514°SE → SE
March3:33 AM – 5:13 AM1.721°SE → SSE
April1:24 AM – 4:14 AM2.824°SE → S
May11:31 PM – 3:31 AM4.025°SE → SSW
June9:40 PM – 3:10 AM5.525°SE → SW
July9:35 PM – 1:55 AM4.325°SSE → SW
August8:56 PM – 11:46 PM2.824°S → SW
September8:05 PM – 9:45 PM1.721°SSW → SW
October7:20 PM – 7:50 PM0.514°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
DecemberBelow 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 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 December as the cloudiest (52%). 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 °F6569818797103103101100877564
Low °F4-21720253850473217145
Precip. (in)1.11.30.80.60.50.21.61.71.11.20.71.0

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.
  • 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 Kaibab National Forest, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
East Rim Viewpoint4.3 km away · Coconino County · 2,665 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Marble Viewpoint6.8 km away · Coconino County · 2,704 m
Dry Park LookoutFire Lookout
Dry Park Lookout10 km away · Coconino County
Fire Lookout
Kanabownitz Lookout15 km away · Coconino County
Rock Formation
Excalibur20 km away · Coconino County
Natural Arch
Kolb Arch21 km away · Coconino County
Natural Arch
Royal Arches22 km away · Coconino County
Rock Formation
Hancock Butte22 km away · Coconino County
Natural Arch
Natural Bridge22 km away · Coconino County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Kaibab 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 Kaibab National Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:19 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:54 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:11 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Kaibab National Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Kaibab National Forest?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Kaibab 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 Kaibab National Forest from Grand Canyon?
About 40 km (25 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.