Camas Creek along US Highway 395 near Dale, Oregon, United States. This stretch of the stream and highway lie within Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor, an
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45.1254° N118.9720° WBortle 1Los Angeles

Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor Photography Guide

State Park in Umatilla County, Oregon

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 237°–306°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug
Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Located in Umatilla County, Oregon, Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor is a state park. It sits roughly 41 km (26 mi) SSW of Pilot Rock.

Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.From the Wikipedia article “Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Pilot Rock
41 km (26 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
July
25% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
3.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:32 PM
sunset 6:12 PM

Light at Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor

Live
Sunrise
7:19 AM
Sunset
6:04 PM
Golden hour AM
7:01 AM – 8:00 AM
Golden hour PM
5:23 PM – 6:22 PM
Blue hour AM
6:49 AM – 7:01 AM
Blue hour PM
6:22 PM – 6:34 PM
Full darkness
7:42 PM – 5:42 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:36 PM / 1:06 AM
Day length
10h 45m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
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 Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:00 AM90° E7:08 PM271° W45°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:09 AM55° NE8:47 PM306° NW68°15h 38m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:44 AM89° E6:55 PM271° W45°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:32 AM124° ESE4:17 PM237° WSW21°8h 45m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:59 AM7:32 AM8:18 AM3:53 PM4:40 PM5:13 PM9h 09m
February6:28 AM6:58 AM7:39 AM4:42 PM5:24 PM5:54 PM10h 26m
March6:40 AM7:09 AM7:48 AM6:23 PM7:02 PM7:31 PM11h 53m
April5:41 AM6:12 AM6:51 AM7:02 PM7:41 PM8:12 PM13h 30m
May4:53 AM5:27 AM6:10 AM7:36 PM8:19 PM8:53 PM14h 52m
June4:31 AM5:09 AM5:54 AM8:00 PM8:46 PM9:23 PM15h 37m
July4:48 AM5:24 AM6:08 AM7:57 PM8:41 PM9:17 PM15h 18m
August5:26 AM5:58 AM6:39 AM7:24 PM8:04 PM8:36 PM14h 06m
September6:06 AM6:35 AM7:14 AM6:30 PM7:09 PM7:38 PM12h 33m
October6:43 AM7:12 AM7:52 AM5:32 PM6:12 PM6:42 PM11h 00m
November6:23 AM6:55 AM7:40 AM3:43 PM4:28 PM5:00 PM9h 33m
December6:55 AM7:29 AM8:18 AM3:26 PM4:15 PM4:49 PM8h 47m

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 Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor, 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 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—7°—
March5:01 AM – 5:21 AM0.312°SSE → SSE
April3:00 AM – 4:20 AM1.315°SSE → S
May12:59 AM – 3:09 AM2.216°SSE → S
June11:21 PM – 2:31 AM3.216°SSE → SSW
July11:04 PM – 1:14 AM2.216°S → SSW
August10:00 PM – 11:10 PM1.215°SSW → SSW
September8:50 PM – 9:10 PM0.312°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—7°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-3°—
DecemberBelow 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.89 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 25% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (76%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F6363768492100101103100877258
Low °F-9515222835444331155-8
Precip. (in)2.32.02.32.02.21.70.40.50.71.62.22.8

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 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

Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor, closest first.

Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic CorridorState Park
Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor16 km away · Umatilla County
Waterfall
Meadow Brooks Falls18 km away · Grant County · 1,005 m
Waterfall
Thompson Falls21 km away · Morrow County · 1,255 m
Hot Spring
Lehman Hot Springs25 km away · Umatilla County
Hot Spring
Ritter Hot Springs29 km away · Grant County
Hot Spring
Powell Hot Springs30 km away · Grant County
North Fork John Day WildernessWilderness Area
North Fork John Day Wilderness38 km away · Grant County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor?
July 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 wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:32 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:12 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:52 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 55° in June to 124° in December; sunset ranges from 306° to 237°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor?
Yes — the core is visible from April to August on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor?
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 Ukiah–Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor from Pilot Rock?
About 41 km (26 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.