Sawtooth Range from the Sawtooth Valley, Idaho, USA
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43.7333° N114.6667° WBortle 1Boise

Sawtooth National Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Blaine County, Idaho

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 238°–305°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Sawtooth National Forest is a national forest in Blaine County, Idaho. It sits roughly 25 km (16 mi) WNW of Ketchum.

Sawtooth National Forest is a national forest that covers 2,110,408 acres (854,052 ha) in the U.S. states of Idaho (~96 percent) and Utah (~4 percent). Managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was originally named the Sawtooth Forest Reserve in a proclamation issued by President Theodore Roosevelt on May 29, 1905. On August 22, 1972, a portion of the forest was designated as the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), which includes the Sawtooth, Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds, and Hemingway–Boulders wilderness areas. The forest is managed as four units: the SNRA and the Fairfield, Ketchum, and Minidoka Ranger Districts.From the Wikipedia article “Sawtooth National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Ketchum
25 km (16 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
July
30% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
3.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:18 PM
sunset 6:57 PM

Light at Sawtooth National Forest

Live
Sunrise
8:00 AM
Sunset
6:48 PM
Golden hour AM
7:42 AM – 8:39 AM
Golden hour PM
6:09 PM – 7:06 PM
Blue hour AM
7:31 AM – 7:42 AM
Blue hour PM
7:06 PM – 7:18 PM
Full darkness
8:24 PM – 6:25 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
4:16 PM / 1:51 AM
Day length
10h 49m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Boise. 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 Sawtooth National Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:43 AM90° E7:51 PM271° W46°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:58 AM56° NE9:25 PM305° NW70°15h 27m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:27 AM89° E7:38 PM271° W47°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)8:10 AM123° ESE5:05 PM238° WSW23°8h 55m

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
January7:38 AM8:10 AM8:55 AM4:42 PM5:27 PM5:59 PM9h 17m
February7:09 AM7:38 AM8:19 AM5:29 PM6:09 PM6:39 PM10h 31m
March7:23 AM7:52 AM8:30 AM7:07 PM7:45 PM8:14 PM11h 53m
April6:26 AM6:56 AM7:35 AM7:44 PM8:22 PM8:52 PM13h 26m
May5:41 AM6:14 AM6:56 AM8:16 PM8:58 PM9:31 PM14h 43m
June5:21 AM5:57 AM6:41 AM8:39 PM9:23 PM9:59 PM15h 26m
July5:37 AM6:11 AM6:54 AM8:36 PM9:19 PM9:54 PM15h 08m
August6:13 AM6:44 AM7:24 AM8:05 PM8:44 PM9:15 PM14h 00m
September6:50 AM7:19 AM7:57 AM7:13 PM7:51 PM8:20 PM12h 32m
October7:25 AM7:54 AM8:33 AM6:18 PM6:57 PM7:26 PM11h 03m
November7:03 AM7:34 AM8:17 AM4:31 PM5:15 PM5:46 PM9h 41m
December7:34 AM8:06 AM8:53 AM4:16 PM5:03 PM5:36 PM8h 57m

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 Sawtooth National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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—-4°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
March5:31 AM – 6:11 AM0.714°SSE → SSE
April3:27 AM – 5:07 AM1.717°SSE → S
May1:31 AM – 4:01 AM2.517°SSE → S
June11:46 PM – 3:26 AM3.717°SSE → SSW
July11:33 PM – 2:13 AM2.717°S → SSW
August10:36 PM – 12:06 AM1.516°S → SSW
September9:29 PM – 10:09 PM0.714°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.89 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ 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 30% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). 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 °F455063758694989691826445
Low °F-21-16-81119263533246-29-18
Precip. (in)2.21.92.21.71.71.10.50.61.01.41.82.9

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 Sawtooth National Forest, closest first.

Baker PeakMountain Peak
Baker Peak7.1 km away · Camas County · 3,098 m
Big PeakMountain Peak
Big Peak8.7 km away · Camas County · 3,049 m
Hot Spring
Skillern Hot Springs15 km away · Camas County
Galena SummitMountain Pass
Galena Summit16 km away · Blaine County
Scenic Viewpoint
Galena Overlook16 km away · Blaine County · 2,546 m
Hot Spring
Warfield Hot Spring18 km away · Blaine County
Hot Spring
Guyer Hot Springs21 km away · Blaine County
Hot Spring
Worswick Hot Springs22 km away · Camas County
Hot Spring
Preis Hot Spring22 km away · Camas County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Sawtooth National Forest?
July 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 Sawtooth National Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:18 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:57 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:33 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Sawtooth National Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 56° in June to 123° in December; sunset ranges from 305° to 238°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Sawtooth National Forest?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sawtooth 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 Sawtooth National Forest from Ketchum?
About 25 km (16 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.