Located in Mariposa County, California, Arch Rock is a natural arch. It lies in or next to Yosemite National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, about 14.6 km (9.1 mi) away (Arch Rock lies WSW of town).
From the National Park Service
Welcome to Yosemite National Park! The Arch Rock entrance is a fee station located on El Portal Road, the continuation of Highway 140 inside the park.
This entrance is named for a natural feature located near the fee booth: two very large boulders, situated on either side of the inbound road, form an archway for vehicles to pass through.
Visitors can pay the park entrance fee, show their parks pass, or purchase a pass as they enter the park. Park brochures may be available. Entrance stations at Yosemite do not accept cash. Learn more about entrance fees and passes. Seasonal Information Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year (conditions permitting).
From spring through fall, you are likely to experience congestion in Yosemite Valley and at park entrances. Be prepared for delays, especially in afternoons and on weekends. Plan accordingly and use restrooms when available. It is best to arrive early in the morning or in the late afternoon to find parking and avoid traffic delays. Accessibility Request a park accessibility guide to the park. This area also features two accessible picnic tables with extended tops, and accessible restrooms.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Arch Rock the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:38 AM | 59° ENE | 8:25 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 46m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:11 AM | 120° ESE | 4:44 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 33m |
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
Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:45 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:23 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:32 PM | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:06 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 45m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 31m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:35 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:18 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:17 PM | 10h 09m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:12 PM | 9h 34m |
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 Arch Rock, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:57 AM – 5:17 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:08 AM – 4:48 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:07 AM – 3:57 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:18 PM – 3:38 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:11 PM – 2:11 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:31 PM – 12:11 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:50 PM – 8:10 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.59 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 15% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 60 | 64 | 67 | 72 | 86 | 91 | 96 | 91 | 90 | 82 | 74 | 62 |
| Low °F | -9 | -7 | -4 | -3 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 34 | 23 | 14 | -9 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 4.8 |
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 natural arch
- Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
- At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
- Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
- Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
- Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
Suggested gear: Ultra-wide lens, Tripod, Headlamp, Plenty of water. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Arch Rock, closest first.
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfall
Fire Lookout
Scenic Viewpoint
WaterfallWaterfall
Rock FormationCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Tamarack Flat Campground7.2 km (4.5 mi) · reservable
- Dry Gulch9.5 km (5.9 mi) · reservable
- Dirt Flat9.9 km (6.1 mi) · reservable
- Bridalveil Creek Campground10.1 km (6.3 mi) · reservable
- Camp 412.6 km (7.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Arch Rock?
What time is golden hour at Arch Rock?
Where does the sun rise and set at Arch Rock?
Can you see the Milky Way from Arch Rock?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Arch Rock?
How far is Arch Rock from Yosemite Valley?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, National Park Service. 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.