Routt National Forest — a national forest in Routt County, Colorado — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 9.0 km (5.6 mi) NE of Steamboat Springs.
Wikidata describes it as: “national forest in Colorado and Wyoming in the United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Routt National Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:11 AM | 90° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:37 AM | 58° ENE | 8:42 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:55 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:28 AM | 121° ESE | 4:44 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 16m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:35 PM | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 6:52 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:41 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:01 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:14 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 26m |
| June | 5:03 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:13 PM | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:10 PM | 14h 48m |
| August | 5:49 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:45 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:28 PM | 6:56 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:25 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:20 PM | 9h 56m |
| December | 6:53 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:08 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 18m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Routt National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:24 AM – 5:24 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:35 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:34 AM – 4:44 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:29 AM – 3:49 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:45 PM – 3:25 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:36 PM – 2:06 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:49 PM – 11:59 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 10:00 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:59 PM – 7:59 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.43 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (68%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 37 | 34 | 60 | 67 | 81 | 87 | 88 | 85 | 82 | 73 | 58 | 45 |
| Low °F | -26 | -40 | -21 | -14 | 1 | 22 | 33 | 31 | 20 | -5 | -22 | -24 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 |
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 national forest
- 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.
- Dispersed camping is often allowed, which makes sunrise and night shoots easier — check local rules.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Routt National Forest, closest first.
Mountain Pass
Waterfall
Hot Spring
Mountain Peak
Botanical Garden
Ghost Town
Mountain Pass
Wilderness Area
Mountain PassCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Dry Lake Campground (Co)2.2 km (1.4 mi) · reservable
- Teal Lake Group Campsite13.6 km (8.5 mi) · reservable
- Grizzly Creek Guard Station14.4 km (9.0 mi) · reservable
- Meadows Campground (Co)18.7 km (11.6 mi) · reservable
- Dumont Campground19.1 km (11.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Routt National Forest?
What time is golden hour at Routt National Forest?
Where does the sun rise and set at Routt National Forest?
Can you see the Milky Way from Routt National Forest?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Routt National Forest?
How far is Routt National Forest from Steamboat Springs?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata. 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.