Located in Coconino County, Arizona, Cheyava Falls is a waterfall at about 1,807 m (5,928 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Grand Canyon National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 18.0 km (11.2 mi) NE of Grand Canyon.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cheyava Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:32 AM | 90° E | 6:40 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:12 AM | 60° ENE | 7:49 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:17 AM | 89° E | 6:26 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 119° ESE | 5:18 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 42m |
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
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:05 PM | 9h 58m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:36 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 6:14 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:14 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:36 PM | 7:01 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:29 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:28 PM | 13h 07m |
| May | 4:54 AM | 5:23 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:56 PM | 14h 05m |
| June | 4:41 AM | 5:11 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:18 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 4:53 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:00 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:16 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 5:20 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:47 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 5:45 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:45 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:37 PM | 7:03 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:10 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:19 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 43m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Cheyava Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:16 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:31 AM – 5:11 AM | 1.7 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:23 AM – 4:13 AM | 2.8 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 11:29 PM – 3:39 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:38 PM – 3:18 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:32 PM – 1:52 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:55 PM – 11:45 PM | 2.8 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:04 PM – 9:44 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:19 PM – 7:49 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (50%). 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 | 62 | 67 | 79 | 86 | 96 | 102 | 103 | 100 | 98 | 87 | 77 | 63 |
| Low °F | 2 | 0 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 38 | 50 | 49 | 32 | 16 | 15 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
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 waterfall
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. 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 Cheyava Falls, closest first.
Natural ArchNatural Arch
Waterfall
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
CanyonNatural ArchRock FormationCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- North Rim Campground (Az)10.5 km (6.5 mi) · reservable
- Trailer Village Rv Park - South Rim16.3 km (10.2 mi)
- Mather Campground16.9 km (10.5 mi) · reservable
- Desert View Campground18.1 km (11.3 mi) · reservable
- Hull Cabin20.0 km (12.4 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cheyava Falls?
What time is golden hour at Cheyava Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cheyava Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cheyava Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cheyava Falls?
How far is Cheyava Falls from Grand Canyon?
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.