Arch Trail Introduction — a natural arch in Wasco County, Oregon — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Madras, about 64 km (40 mi) away (Arch Trail Introduction lies ENE of town).
From the National Park Service
The Clarno Unit is an underrated yet incredibly important unit of the Monument, since it preserves one of the lushest and most diverse chapters in Oregon’s ancient history. The Clarno Palisades may not be as visually stimulating as the Painted Hills or Sheep Rock, but Clarno is the only unit in the monument where real fossils are easily viewable along the trail in their original resting place! As you continue towards the base of the Palisades, look out for any leaf or vine imprints on the boulders along the trail. We strongly encourage you to trace these fossil imprints with your fingers, or even sketch them in a journal to reflect on your visit to the Clarno Unit long after you leave.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Arch Trail Introduction the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:06 AM | 90° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:16 AM | 55° NE | 8:52 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:50 AM | 89° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 123° ESE | 4:24 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 46m |
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 | 7:04 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 10m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | 10h 27m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:37 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:47 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:18 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:00 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 50m |
| June | 4:38 AM | 5:16 AM | 6:01 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:28 PM | 15h 35m |
| July | 4:54 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:22 PM | 15h 16m |
| August | 5:33 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:42 PM | 14h 05m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:48 PM | 11h 00m |
| November | 6:28 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:44 AM | 3:50 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:06 PM | 9h 34m |
| December | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:22 AM | 3:33 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:56 PM | 8h 48m |
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 Trail Introduction, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:06 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:05 AM – 4:25 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:03 AM – 3:13 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:24 PM – 2:34 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:07 PM – 1:17 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:05 PM – 11:15 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:55 PM – 9:15 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.86 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (73%). 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 | 62 | 63 | 75 | 83 | 93 | 98 | 104 | 101 | 99 | 89 | 71 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 25 | 31 | 38 | 37 | 28 | 15 | -2 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
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 Trail Introduction, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Arch Trail Introduction?
What time is golden hour at Arch Trail Introduction?
Where does the sun rise and set at Arch Trail Introduction?
Can you see the Milky Way from Arch Trail Introduction?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Arch Trail Introduction?
How far is Arch Trail Introduction from Madras?
Sources
Location data: 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.