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33.6203° N117.9234° W4 mBortle 9Los Angeles

The Arches Photography Guide

Natural Arch in Orange County, California · 4 m (13 ft)

  • Bortle 9 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–299°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

The Arches is a natural arch in Orange County, California.

Elevation
4 m
13 ft
Nearest town
Newport Beach
500 m
Sky darkness
Bortle 9
Inner-city sky
Clearest month
September
28% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:46 PM
sunset 6:19 PM

Light at The Arches

Live
Sunrise
7:01 AM
Sunset
6:13 PM
Golden hour AM
6:45 AM – 7:35 AM
Golden hour PM
5:39 PM – 6:29 PM
Blue hour AM
6:36 AM – 6:45 AM
Blue hour PM
6:29 PM – 6:38 PM
Full darkness
7:36 PM – 5:39 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:12 PM / 1:25 AM
Day length
11h 12m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
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 The Arches 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)6:56 AM90° E7:04 PM271° W56°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:43 AM61° ENE8:06 PM299° WNW80°14h 23m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:41 AM89° E6:50 PM271° W57°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:53 AM118° ESE4:48 PM242° WSW33°9h 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

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:30 AM6:57 AM7:34 AM4:30 PM5:07 PM5:34 PM10h 10m
February6:11 AM6:37 AM7:11 AM5:02 PM5:37 PM6:02 PM11h 00m
March6:38 AM7:03 AM7:36 AM6:27 PM7:00 PM7:25 PM11h 57m
April5:56 AM6:22 AM6:55 AM6:49 PM7:23 PM7:48 PM13h 01m
May5:24 AM5:52 AM6:27 AM7:11 PM7:46 PM8:13 PM13h 54m
June5:13 AM5:42 AM6:19 AM7:28 PM8:04 PM8:33 PM14h 22m
July5:25 AM5:53 AM6:29 AM7:27 PM8:03 PM8:32 PM14h 10m
August5:48 AM6:15 AM6:49 AM7:05 PM7:39 PM8:06 PM13h 25m
September6:11 AM6:36 AM7:09 AM6:27 PM7:00 PM7:25 PM12h 24m
October6:32 AM6:57 AM7:31 AM5:46 PM6:19 PM6:44 PM11h 22m
November5:58 AM6:24 AM7:00 AM4:14 PM4:50 PM5:16 PM10h 26m
December6:22 AM6:50 AM7:28 AM4:08 PM4:46 PM5:13 PM9h 56m

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 The Arches, 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 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
February4:31 AM – 5:11 AM0.717°SE → SE
March3:33 AM – 5:33 AM2.024°SE → SSE
April1:30 AM – 4:50 AM3.328°SE → S
May11:32 PM – 4:12 AM4.728°SE → SSW
June9:47 PM – 3:57 AM6.228°SE → SW
July9:43 PM – 2:33 AM4.828°SSE → SW
August9:10 PM – 12:30 AM3.328°S → SW
September8:24 PM – 10:24 PM2.024°SSW → SW
October7:42 PM – 8:22 PM0.717°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: 9 Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 17.97 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 28% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (43%). August 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 °F858587939597100981021019182
Low °F353840424749565555483838
Precip. (in)2.32.91.20.80.20.00.10.10.10.61.12.3

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

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.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of The Arches, closest first.

Huntington State BeachState Park
Huntington State Beach4.9 km away · Orange County
Sherman Library and GardensBotanical Garden
Sherman Library and Gardens5.1 km away · Orange County
Corona del Mar State BeachState Park
Corona del Mar State Beach5.4 km away · Orange County
Lighthouse
Newport Bay West Jetty Light5.4 km away · Orange County
Natural Arch
Arch Rock6.3 km away · Orange County
University of California, Irvine ArboretumBotanical Garden
University of California, Irvine Arboretum8.1 km away · Orange County
Crystal Cove State ParkState Park
Crystal Cove State Park9.3 km away · Orange County
Bommer CanyonCanyon
Bommer Canyon11 km away · Orange County
Canyon
Emerald Canyon13 km away · Orange County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph The Arches?
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. Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
What time is golden hour at The Arches?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:46 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:19 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:31 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at The Arches?
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 The Arches?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 9 (inner-city sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Arches?
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 The Arches from Newport Beach?
About 500 m in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.