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39.1275° N108.8448° W1,732 mBortle 3Denver

Finger Arch Photography Guide

Natural Arch in Mesa County, Colorado · 1,732 m (5,682 ft)

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

Finger Arch — a natural arch in Mesa County, Colorado at about 1,732 m (5,682 ft) above sea level — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 8.1 km (5.0 mi) SSW of Loma.

Elevation
1,732 m
5,682 ft
Nearest town
Loma
8.1 km (5.0 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
36% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:02 PM
sunset 6:38 PM

Light at Finger Arch

Live
Sunrise
7:31 AM
Sunset
6:31 PM
Golden hour AM
7:14 AM – 8:07 AM
Golden hour PM
5:54 PM – 6:48 PM
Blue hour AM
7:04 AM – 7:14 AM
Blue hour PM
6:48 PM – 6:58 PM
Full darkness
8:00 PM – 6:02 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:44 PM / 1:37 AM
Day length
11h 00m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. 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 Finger Arch 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 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)7:20 AM90° E7:28 PM271° W51°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:50 AM59° ENE8:46 PM302° WNW74°14h 55m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:04 AM89° E7:14 PM271° W51°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:32 AM120° ESE4:57 PM240° WSW27°9h 25m

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
January7:04 AM7:34 AM8:14 AM4:36 PM5:17 PM5:46 PM9h 43m
February6:41 AM7:08 AM7:45 AM5:16 PM5:53 PM6:20 PM10h 45m
March7:01 AM7:28 AM8:03 AM6:47 PM7:23 PM7:49 PM11h 55m
April6:12 AM6:39 AM7:15 AM7:17 PM7:53 PM8:20 PM13h 14m
May5:33 AM6:03 AM6:41 AM7:44 PM8:22 PM8:52 PM14h 19m
June5:17 AM5:50 AM6:30 AM8:04 PM8:44 PM9:16 PM14h 54m
July5:31 AM6:02 AM6:41 AM8:02 PM8:42 PM9:13 PM14h 39m
August6:01 AM6:29 AM7:06 AM7:35 PM8:12 PM8:41 PM13h 43m
September6:31 AM6:57 AM7:33 AM6:50 PM7:25 PM7:52 PM12h 28m
October6:59 AM7:26 AM8:02 AM6:02 PM6:38 PM7:05 PM11h 12m
November6:31 AM6:59 AM7:39 AM4:23 PM5:02 PM5:31 PM10h 03m
December6:58 AM7:28 AM8:11 AM4:12 PM4:54 PM5:24 PM9h 26m

Local time (America/Denver), 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 Finger Arch, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:22 AM – 5:32 AM0.212°SE → SE
March4:32 AM – 5:52 AM1.318°SE → SSE
April2:28 AM – 4:58 AM2.522°SE → S
May12:30 AM – 4:10 AM3.722°SE → S
June10:44 PM – 3:44 AM5.022°SE → SSW
July10:36 PM – 2:16 AM3.722°SSE → SW
August9:52 PM – 12:22 AM2.521°S → SW
September8:56 PM – 10:16 PM1.318°SSW → SW
October8:07 PM – 8:17 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.41 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 °F56597382961001029895856954
Low °F-11-1321721334443306-5-12
Precip. (in)1.01.11.11.31.20.71.11.21.61.41.11.1

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

  • 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.
  • Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.

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 Finger Arch, closest first.

Natural Arch
Cedar Tree Arch1.4 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Trap Arch1.5 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Centennial Arch1.9 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
West Pollock Arch2.0 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Window Rock Tower2.0 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Hole in the Bridge Arch2.2 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Windows of Pollock Canyon2.7 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Trail Arch3.5 km away · Mesa County
Natural Arch
Protractor Arch4.3 km away · Mesa County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Finger Arch?
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 Finger Arch?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:02 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:38 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:02 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Finger Arch?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 59° 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 Finger Arch?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Finger Arch?
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 Finger Arch from Loma?
About 8.1 km (5.0 mi) 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.