Gray Falls — a waterfall in Trinity County, California at about 192 m (630 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 15.6 km (9.7 mi) SE of Willow Creek.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Gray Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:18 AM | 90° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:43 AM | 58° ENE | 8:50 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 07m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:02 AM | 89° E | 7:13 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 121° ESE | 4:50 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 14m |
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 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:19 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:48 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:26 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 28m |
| June | 5:09 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:24 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:21 PM | 15h 05m |
| July | 5:23 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:36 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 49m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:58 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:02 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 55m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:04 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 16m |
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 Gray Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:31 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:42 AM – 5:52 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:42 AM – 4:52 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:38 AM – 3:58 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:54 PM – 3:34 AM | 4.7 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:45 PM – 2:05 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 12:07 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:58 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:06 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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: 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 ≈ 21.87 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 July as the clearest month (about 17% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 71 | 72 | 86 | 86 | 94 | 104 | 105 | 103 | 105 | 96 | 83 | 71 |
| Low °F | 20 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 30 | 35 | 43 | 43 | 35 | 29 | 22 | 18 |
| Precip. (in) | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 10.8 |
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
- 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.
- Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.
- Bracket shutter speeds: 1/8 s, 1/2 s and 2 s give very different water textures and you can choose later.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Gray Falls, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Denny Campground11.6 km (7.2 mi)
- Hayden Flat Group Campground14.2 km (8.8 mi) · reservable
- Boise Creek17.8 km (11.0 mi) · reservable
- East Fork Campground – Six Rivers Nf (Ca)19.5 km (12.1 mi) · reservable
- Slide Creek Campground21 km (13 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Gray Falls?
What time is golden hour at Gray Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Gray Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Gray Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Gray Falls?
How far is Gray Falls from Willow Creek?
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.