Salmon–Challis National Forest — a national forest in Lemhi County, Idaho — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Salmon, about 27 km (17 mi) away (Salmon–Challis National Forest lies WNW of town).
Salmon–Challis National Forest is located in east central sections of the U.S. state of Idaho. At 4,235,940 acres (6,618.66 sq mi, or 17,142.24 km2) it is one of the largest national forests in the lower 48 states and also has most of the land area of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, which is the largest wilderness area south of Alaska. Borah Peak, the tallest mountain in Idaho, is also found here. The Wild and Scenic designated Salmon River weaves through the rugged terrain of the Sawtooth Mountains and Sawtooth National Recreation Area, while it flows for over 75 miles (121 km) through the forest. The Big Lost River has its headwaters within the national forest. Challis National Forest, the more southerly of its two parts, lies primarily in Custer County, but also has major areas in Lemhi and Butte counties, as well as smaller areas in Clark and Blaine counties. It...From the Wikipedia article “Salmon–Challis National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Salmon–Challis National Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:41 AM | 90° E | 7:49 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 55° NE | 9:29 PM | 306° NW | 68° | 15h 39m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:25 AM | 89° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:14 AM | 124° ESE | 4:58 PM | 237° WSW | 21° | 8h 44m |
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 | 7:40 AM | 8:13 AM | 9:00 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:54 PM | 9h 08m |
| February | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:21 AM | 5:23 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:35 PM | 10h 25m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:29 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:12 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:53 PM | 13h 30m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:18 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:35 PM | 14h 53m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:35 AM | 8:42 PM | 9:27 PM | 10:05 PM | 15h 38m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:48 AM | 8:38 PM | 9:23 PM | 9:59 PM | 15h 19m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 07m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:19 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:24 AM | 7:53 AM | 8:34 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 00m |
| November | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 32m |
| December | 7:36 AM | 8:10 AM | 8:59 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:30 PM | 8h 45m |
Local time (America/Boise), 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 Salmon–Challis National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:42 AM – 6:02 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:41 AM – 5:01 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:40 AM – 3:50 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:02 AM – 3:12 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:45 PM – 1:55 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:41 PM – 11:51 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:31 PM – 9:51 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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. Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 34% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (76%). 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 | 43 | 47 | 63 | 72 | 82 | 89 | 98 | 94 | 89 | 81 | 63 | 42 |
| Low °F | -30 | -32 | -13 | 1 | 17 | 24 | 33 | 29 | 21 | -2 | -20 | -27 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.8 |
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 Salmon–Challis National Forest, closest first.
Ghost Town
Waterfall
Hot SpringWaterfall
National ForestHot SpringHot SpringHot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Wallace Lake Campground15.6 km (9.7 mi)
- Morgan Bar Campground23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Tower Rock Campground23 km (14 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Salmon–Challis National Forest?
What time is golden hour at Salmon–Challis National Forest?
Where does the sun rise and set at Salmon–Challis National Forest?
Can you see the Milky Way from Salmon–Challis National Forest?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Salmon–Challis National Forest?
How far is Salmon–Challis National Forest from Salmon?
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.