Located in Cassia County, Idaho, City of Rocks National Reserve is a state park. It lies in or next to City Of Rocks National Reserve, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Burley, about 52 km (32 mi) away (City of Rocks National Reserve lies S of town). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of Rocks National Reserve, also known as the Silent City of Rocks, is a United States National Reserve and state park in south-central Idaho, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the border with Utah. It is widely known for its granite rock formations and rock climbing. The rock spires in the City of Rocks and adjacent Castle Rocks State Park are largely composed of granitic rock of the Oligocene Almo pluton and Archean Green Creek Complex. City of Rocks is also a popular rock climbing area, with over 1,000 traditional and bolt-protected routes. In the 1980s, it was home to some of the most difficult routes in the country, mostly developed by Idaho climber Tony Yaniro. Climbers in the region refer to the area as simply "The City". During the 1840s and 1850s, wagon trains on the California Trail left the Raft River valley and traveled through the area and over Granite...From the Wikipedia article “City of Rocks National Reserve”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At City of Rocks National Reserve the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:00 AM | 57° ENE | 9:15 PM | 303° WNW | 71° | 15h 15m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:23 AM | 89° E | 7:34 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:01 AM | 122° ESE | 5:07 PM | 239° WSW | 24° | 9h 06m |
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
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:30 AM | 8:01 AM | 8:45 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:59 PM | 9h 27m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:11 AM | 5:29 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:37 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:25 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:09 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:26 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:43 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:55 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:21 PM | 14h 34m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:31 PM | 9:13 PM | 9:48 PM | 15h 14m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:43 PM | 14h 57m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:07 PM | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:14 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:26 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 49m |
| December | 7:25 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:42 AM | 4:20 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 08m |
Local time (America/Boise), 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 City of Rocks National Reserve, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 5:15 AM – 6:05 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:07 AM – 5:07 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 1:06 AM – 4:16 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 11:25 PM – 3:45 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:15 PM – 2:25 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 10:23 PM – 12:23 AM | 2.0 | 18° | S → SW |
| September | 9:21 PM – 10:21 PM | 1.0 | 15° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| 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: 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 ≈ 21.88 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ 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 35% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 63 | 59 | 74 | 85 | 98 | 104 | 107 | 102 | 101 | 90 | 73 | 56 |
| Low °F | -19 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 22 | 31 | 43 | 43 | 29 | 11 | -12 | -7 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.0 |
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 state park
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. 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 40 km of City of Rocks National Reserve, closest first.
Rock FormationRock Formation
Natural ArchRock Formation
Scenic Viewpoint
State Park
Mountain Peak
Hot Spring
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- City Of Rocks Campground980 m
- Smoky Mountain Campground4.2 km (2.6 mi)
- Independence Lakes Campground16.0 km (9.9 mi)
- Lake Cleveland Campground - West Side27 km (17 mi)
- Twin Lakes Campground (Sawtooth)28 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph City of Rocks National Reserve?
What time is golden hour at City of Rocks National Reserve?
Where does the sun rise and set at City of Rocks National Reserve?
Can you see the Milky Way from City of Rocks National Reserve?
Do you need a permit to photograph at City of Rocks National Reserve?
How far is City of Rocks National Reserve from Burley?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.