The San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, California. Twin Peaks (7761 feet) is in the middle distance on the right.
  1. Home
  2. National Forests
  3. California
  4. Angeles National Forest
34.3333° N118.1330° WBortle 6Los Angeles

Angeles National Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Los Angeles County, California

  • Bortle 6 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: August
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Geographer at en.wikipedia · CC BY 1.0 · source

Angeles National Forest — a national forest in Los Angeles County, California — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is La Crescenta-Montrose, about 14.7 km (9.1 mi) away (Angeles National Forest lies NE of town).

The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the United States Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County in Southern California. The ANF manages a majority of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The national forest was established in 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel National Forests. Angeles National Forest headquarters are located in Arcadia, California.From the Wikipedia article “Angeles National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
La Crescenta-Montrose
14.7 km (9.1 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 6
Bright suburban sky
Clearest month
August
14% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:45 PM
sunset 6:19 PM

Light at Angeles National Forest

Live
Sunrise
7:03 AM
Sunset
6:13 PM
Golden hour AM
6:47 AM – 7:37 AM
Golden hour PM
5:39 PM – 6:29 PM
Blue hour AM
6:37 AM – 6:47 AM
Blue hour PM
6:29 PM – 6:39 PM
Full darkness
7:37 PM – 5:40 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:14 PM / 1:25 AM
Day length
11h 11m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Los Angeles. 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 Angeles 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 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)6:57 AM90° E7:05 PM271° W56°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:42 AM61° ENE8:09 PM300° WNW79°14h 27m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:41 AM89° E6:51 PM271° W56°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:56 AM118° ESE4:47 PM242° WSW32°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

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
January6:32 AM6:59 AM7:37 AM4:28 PM5:06 PM5:33 PM10h 07m
February6:13 AM6:39 AM7:13 AM5:02 PM5:37 PM6:02 PM10h 58m
March6:39 AM7:04 AM7:37 AM6:27 PM7:01 PM7:26 PM11h 57m
April5:56 AM6:22 AM6:55 AM6:51 PM7:24 PM7:50 PM13h 03m
May5:23 AM5:51 AM6:27 AM7:13 PM7:48 PM8:16 PM13h 57m
June5:11 AM5:41 AM6:18 AM7:30 PM8:07 PM8:36 PM14h 26m
July5:24 AM5:52 AM6:29 AM7:30 PM8:06 PM8:35 PM14h 14m
August5:48 AM6:14 AM6:49 AM7:07 PM7:41 PM8:08 PM13h 27m
September6:11 AM6:36 AM7:10 AM6:28 PM7:01 PM7:26 PM12h 24m
October6:33 AM6:58 AM7:32 AM5:45 PM6:19 PM6:45 PM11h 21m
November6:00 AM6:27 AM7:03 AM4:13 PM4:50 PM5:16 PM10h 23m
December6:24 AM6:52 AM7:31 AM4:06 PM4:45 PM5:13 PM9h 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 Angeles National Forest, 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.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:31 AM – 5:11 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:45 AM – 5:35 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April1:43 AM – 4:43 AM3.027°SE → S
May11:46 PM – 4:06 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June9:52 PM – 3:52 AM6.027°SE → SW
July9:48 PM – 2:28 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August9:13 PM – 12:23 AM3.227°S → SW
September8:26 PM – 10:26 PM2.024°SSW → SW
October7:43 PM – 8:23 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: 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 ≈ 19.05 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F80848793991091101071121018980
Low °F242526303642505143352724
Precip. (in)2.93.11.90.80.40.00.10.00.10.71.02.4

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 national forest

  • 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.
  • Fall color peaks vary by elevation; follow it downhill over several weeks.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

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 Angeles National Forest, closest first.

Strawberry PeakMountain Peak
Strawberry Peak5.7 km away · Los Angeles County · 1,872 m
Mountain Pass
Mill Creek Summit8.0 km away · Los Angeles County
Switzer FallsWaterfall
Switzer Falls8.6 km away · Los Angeles County
Red BoxMountain Pass
Red Box8.7 km away · Los Angeles County · 1,413 m
Vetter Mountain LookoutFire Lookout
Vetter Mountain Lookout10 km away · Los Angeles County
San Gabriel PeakMountain Peak
San Gabriel Peak11 km away · Los Angeles County · 1,868 m
Mount LoweMountain Peak
Mount Lowe12 km away · Los Angeles County · 1,699 m
Mount LukensMountain Peak
Mount Lukens12 km away · Los Angeles County · 1,544 m
Mount WilsonMountain Peak
Mount Wilson14 km away · Los Angeles County · 1,737 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Angeles National Forest?
August 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 Angeles National Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:45 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:19 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:32 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Angeles National Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° 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 Angeles National Forest?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Angeles 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 Angeles National Forest from La Crescenta-Montrose?
About 14.7 km (9.1 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.