1. Home
  2. National Forests
  3. South Carolina
  4. Savannah River Site Forest
33.3631° N81.6836° WBortle 3New York

Savannah River Site Forest Photography Guide

National Forest in Aiken County, South Carolina

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–299°
  • Clearest: November
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Located in Aiken County, South Carolina, Savannah River Site Forest is a national forest. It sits roughly 6.5 km (4.0 mi) S of New Ellenton.

Wikidata describes it as: “United States National Forest in South Carolina”.

Nearest town
New Ellenton
6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
November
42% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:21 PM
sunset 6:54 PM

Light at Savannah River Site Forest

Live
Sunrise
7:36 AM
Sunset
6:49 PM
Golden hour AM
7:20 AM – 8:10 AM
Golden hour PM
6:15 PM – 7:04 PM
Blue hour AM
7:11 AM – 7:20 AM
Blue hour PM
7:04 PM – 7:14 PM
Full darkness
8:11 PM – 6:14 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:44 PM / 1:56 AM
Day length
11h 13m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. 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 Savannah River Site Forest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:31 AM90° E7:39 PM271° W57°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:18 AM61° ENE8:40 PM299° WNW80°14h 22m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:16 AM89° E7:25 PM271° W57°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:27 AM118° ESE5:24 PM242° WSW33°9h 56m

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
January7:04 AM7:31 AM8:08 AM5:05 PM5:42 PM6:09 PM10h 11m
February6:46 AM7:12 AM7:46 AM5:38 PM6:12 PM6:37 PM11h 00m
March7:13 AM7:38 AM8:11 AM7:02 PM7:35 PM8:00 PM11h 57m
April6:32 AM6:57 AM7:30 AM7:24 PM7:58 PM8:23 PM13h 00m
May6:00 AM6:28 AM7:03 AM7:45 PM8:20 PM8:48 PM13h 53m
June5:49 AM6:18 AM6:54 AM8:02 PM8:39 PM9:07 PM14h 21m
July6:00 AM6:29 AM7:05 AM8:02 PM8:38 PM9:06 PM14h 09m
August6:24 AM6:50 AM7:24 AM7:40 PM8:14 PM8:40 PM13h 24m
September6:46 AM7:11 AM7:44 AM7:02 PM7:35 PM8:00 PM12h 24m
October7:07 AM7:32 AM8:05 AM6:21 PM6:54 PM7:19 PM11h 23m
November6:32 AM6:59 AM7:35 AM4:50 PM5:26 PM5:52 PM10h 27m
December6:57 AM7:24 AM8:02 AM4:44 PM5:21 PM5:49 PM9h 57m

Local time (America/New York), 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 Savannah River Site Forest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
February5:06 AM – 5:46 AM0.717°SE → SE
March4:08 AM – 6:08 AM2.024°SE → SSE
April2:04 AM – 5:24 AM3.328°SE → S
May12:16 AM – 4:46 AM4.528°SE → SSW
June10:21 PM – 4:31 AM6.228°SE → SW
July10:17 PM – 3:07 AM4.828°SSE → SW
August9:44 PM – 1:04 AM3.328°S → SW
September8:59 PM – 10:59 PM2.025°SSW → SW
October8:17 PM – 9:07 PM0.817°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

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 ≈ 21.45 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (55%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F808083941021061041071011018580
Low °F132021294456615948312017
Precip. (in)2.93.83.63.13.75.15.14.93.83.12.93.9

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

  • 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.
  • 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 Savannah River Site Forest, closest first.

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic SiteState Park
Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site19 km away · Aiken County
Ghost Town
Ellenton19 km away · Barnwell County
Ghost Town
Dunbarton23 km away · Barnwell County
Aiken State ParkState Park
Aiken State Park27 km away · Aiken County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Savannah River Site Forest?
November 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 Savannah River Site Forest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:21 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:54 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:05 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Savannah River Site Forest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Savannah River Site Forest?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Savannah River Site 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 Savannah River Site Forest from New Ellenton?
About 6.5 km (4.0 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.