The rugged landscape of Lamoille Canyon is softened by the warm autumn colors found in the Ruby Mountain Ranger District on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
  1. Home
  2. National Forests
  3. Nevada
  4. Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest
39.2540° N117.1280° WBortle 1Los Angeles

Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Lander County, Nevada

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture · Public domain · source

Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest — a national forest in Lander County, Nevada — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 144 km (89 mi) E of Fallon.

The Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest (HTNF) is the principal U.S. national forest in the U.S. state of Nevada, and has a smaller portion further west in Eastern California in the state of California. With an area of 6,289,821 acres (25,454.00 km2), it is the largest U.S. national forest reservation outside of Alaska.From the Wikipedia article “Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Fallon
144 km (89 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
September
26% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:35 PM
sunset 6:11 PM

Light at Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest

Live
Sunrise
7:04 AM
Sunset
6:04 PM
Golden hour AM
6:47 AM – 7:41 AM
Golden hour PM
5:27 PM – 6:21 PM
Blue hour AM
6:37 AM – 6:47 AM
Blue hour PM
6:21 PM – 6:31 PM
Full darkness
7:33 PM – 5:36 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:18 PM / 1:11 AM
Day length
11h 00m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
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 Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:53 AM90° E7:01 PM271° W51°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:23 AM58° ENE8:19 PM302° WNW74°14h 56m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:37 AM89° E6:47 PM271° W51°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:05 AM120° ESE4:29 PM240° WSW27°9h 24m

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
January6:38 AM7:07 AM7:48 AM4:09 PM4:50 PM5:19 PM9h 43m
February6:14 AM6:41 AM7:19 AM4:49 PM5:26 PM5:53 PM10h 45m
March6:34 AM7:01 AM7:36 AM6:20 PM6:56 PM7:23 PM11h 55m
April5:44 AM6:12 AM6:48 AM6:50 PM7:26 PM7:54 PM13h 14m
May5:06 AM5:36 AM6:14 AM7:17 PM7:56 PM8:26 PM14h 20m
June4:50 AM5:22 AM6:03 AM7:37 PM8:17 PM8:50 PM14h 55m
July5:04 AM5:35 AM6:14 AM7:36 PM8:15 PM8:46 PM14h 40m
August5:34 AM6:02 AM6:39 AM7:09 PM7:45 PM8:14 PM13h 43m
September6:04 AM6:31 AM7:06 AM6:23 PM6:59 PM7:26 PM12h 28m
October6:32 AM6:59 AM7:35 AM5:35 PM6:11 PM6:38 PM11h 12m
November6:04 AM6:33 AM7:12 AM3:56 PM4:35 PM5:04 PM10h 02m
December6:32 AM7:02 AM7:44 AM3:45 PM4:27 PM4:57 PM9h 25m

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 Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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—-2°—
February4:56 AM – 5:06 AM0.212°SE → SE
March4:06 AM – 5:26 AM1.318°SE → SSE
April2:02 AM – 4:32 AM2.522°SE → S
May12:04 AM – 3:44 AM3.722°SE → S
June10:18 PM – 3:18 AM5.022°SE → SSW
July10:10 PM – 1:50 AM3.722°SSE → SW
August9:26 PM – 11:56 PM2.521°S → SW
September8:30 PM – 9:50 PM1.318°SSW → SW
October7:41 PM – 7:51 PM0.212°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
DecemberBelow 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.94 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (62%). 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 °F65707683931011029896847459
Low °F-23121620254241281512
Precip. (in)0.70.70.71.11.10.40.50.40.40.60.60.8

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 Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest, closest first.

Bunker HillMountain Peak
Bunker Hill0.2 km away · Lander County · 3,431 m
Ghost Town
San Juan19 km away · Nye County
Hot Spring
Spencer Hot Springs25 km away · Lander County
Waterfall
Marshall Falls26 km away · Lander County · 1,951 m
Ghost Town
Clifton27 km away · Lander County
Ghost Town
Jacobsville28 km away · Lander County
Hot Spring
Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs37 km away · Lander County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest?
September 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 Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:35 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:11 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:35 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 240°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Humboldt–Toiyabe 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 Humboldt–Toiyabe 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 Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest from Fallon?
About 144 km (89 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.