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46.3333° N84.8333° WBortle 1Detroit

Marquette National Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Chippewa County, Michigan

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 236°–306°
  • Clearest: August
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug

Marquette National Forest is a national forest in Chippewa County, Michigan. It sits roughly 42 km (26 mi) WSW of Sault Ste. Marie.

Marquette National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Chippewa County, Michigan on February 10, 1909, with 30,603 acres (123.8 km2). On July 1, 1915, the entire forest was transferred to Michigan National Forest and the name was discontinued. On February 12, 1931, Marquette was re-established in Chippewa and Mackinac counties with 274,910 acres (1,112.5 km2), changing its name back from Michigan. On February 9, 1962, the entire forest was transferred to Hiawatha National Forest and the name was re-discontinued. What was Marquette National Forest currently comprises the East Unit of Hiawatha National Forest.From the Wikipedia article “Marquette National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Sault Ste. Marie
42 km (26 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
August
66% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
2.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:13 PM
sunset 6:54 PM

Light at Marquette National Forest

Live
Sunrise
8:04 AM
Sunset
6:46 PM
Golden hour AM
7:45 AM – 8:46 AM
Golden hour PM
6:04 PM – 7:04 PM
Blue hour AM
7:33 AM – 7:45 AM
Blue hour PM
7:04 PM – 7:16 PM
Full darkness
8:26 PM – 6:25 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
4:20 PM / 1:39 AM
Day length
10h 42m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Detroit. 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 Marquette National Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:43 AM90° E7:52 PM271° W44°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:48 AM54° NE9:36 PM306° NW67°15h 48m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:27 AM89° E7:39 PM271° W44°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)8:20 AM124° SE4:56 PM236° SW20°8h 36m

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
January7:45 AM8:19 AM9:07 AM4:31 PM5:20 PM5:53 PM9h 00m
February7:13 AM7:44 AM8:26 AM5:23 PM6:05 PM6:36 PM10h 21m
March7:23 AM7:53 AM8:33 AM7:05 PM7:45 PM8:15 PM11h 52m
April6:22 AM6:53 AM7:34 AM7:46 PM8:27 PM8:58 PM13h 33m
May5:32 AM6:07 AM6:51 AM8:22 PM9:06 PM9:41 PM14h 59m
June5:08 AM5:47 AM6:34 AM8:47 PM9:34 PM10:13 PM15h 47m
July5:25 AM6:03 AM6:48 AM8:44 PM9:29 PM10:06 PM15h 27m
August6:06 AM6:39 AM7:20 AM8:09 PM8:51 PM9:24 PM14h 12m
September6:48 AM7:18 AM7:58 AM7:13 PM7:53 PM8:23 PM12h 35m
October7:27 AM7:57 AM8:38 AM6:13 PM6:54 PM7:25 PM10h 57m
November7:09 AM7:41 AM8:28 AM4:22 PM5:08 PM5:41 PM9h 27m
December7:42 AM8:17 AM9:07 AM4:03 PM4:54 PM5:29 PM8h 37m

Local time (America/Detroit), 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 Marquette National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° 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—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
March5:55 AM – 6:05 AM0.211°SSE → SSE
April3:57 AM – 4:57 AM1.014°SSE → SSE
May1:50 AM – 3:40 AM1.815°SSE → S
June12:18 AM – 2:58 AM2.715°SSE → SSW
July11:58 PM – 1:48 AM1.815°S → SSW
August10:49 PM – 11:39 PM0.814°SSW → SSW
September9:36 PM – 9:46 PM0.211°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
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 ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 66% average cloud cover) and November as the cloudiest (82%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F393870688083898782766555
Low °F-25-25-153253440443522-1-15
Precip. (in)2.01.91.93.03.03.53.03.23.94.73.42.8

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

  • 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 Marquette National Forest, closest first.

Delirium WildernessWilderness Area
Delirium Wilderness11 km away · Chippewa County
Sand Dunes
Pendills Bay Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)13 km away · Chippewa County
Sand Dunes
Tahquamenon Bay Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)19 km away · Chippewa County
Sand Dunes
Back Bay Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)21 km away · Chippewa County
Point Iroquois LightLighthouse
Point Iroquois Light23 km away · Chippewa County
Brimley State ParkState Park
Brimley State Park23 km away · Chippewa County
Sand Dunes
Birch Point Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)26 km away · Chippewa County
Wilderness Area
Mackinac Wilderness30 km away · Mackinac County
Sand Dunes
Tahquamenon River Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)32 km away · Chippewa County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Marquette 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 Marquette National Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:13 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:54 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:38 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Marquette National Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 54° in June to 124° in December; sunset ranges from 306° to 236°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Marquette National Forest?
Yes — the core is visible from April to August on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Marquette 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 Marquette National Forest from Sault Ste. Marie?
About 42 km (26 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.