Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades — a waterfall in Los Angeles County, California — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 4.8 km (3.0 mi) WNW of Sylmar.
Wikidata describes it as: “terminus of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in Sylmar, L.A., California”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:58 AM | 90° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:43 AM | 61° ENE | 8:10 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 27m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:43 AM | 89° E | 6:52 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:57 AM | 118° ESE | 4:49 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 51m |
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 | 6:33 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:35 PM | 10h 07m |
| February | 6:14 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:15 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 58m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:27 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:57 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:52 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 5:25 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:18 PM | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:13 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:38 PM | 14h 26m |
| July | 5:25 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 14m |
| August | 5:49 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:09 PM | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:13 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:46 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:01 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:18 PM | 10h 23m |
| December | 6:26 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:14 PM | 9h 52m |
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 Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:32 AM – 5:12 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:46 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:44 AM – 4:44 AM | 3.0 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 11:47 PM – 4:07 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:53 PM – 3:53 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:49 PM – 2:29 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:14 PM – 12:24 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:27 PM – 10:27 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:44 PM – 8:24 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.44 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 14% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (42%). 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 | 80 | 84 | 87 | 93 | 99 | 109 | 110 | 107 | 112 | 101 | 89 | 80 |
| Low °F | 24 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 36 | 42 | 50 | 51 | 43 | 35 | 27 | 24 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
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
- A 3-stop ND filter lets you use slow shutter speeds even when the light is bright.
- Shoot a vertical and a horizontal frame; tall falls often work better in portrait orientation.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades, closest first.
Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass
State Park
Botanical Garden
Canyon
Ghost Town
Canyon
State Park
Mountain PassCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Zuni Campground21 km (13 mi)
- Streamside Campground26 km (16 mi)
- Lightning Point Group Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades?
What time is golden hour at Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades?
Where does the sun rise and set at Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades?
Can you see the Milky Way from Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades?
How far is Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades from Sylmar?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata. 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.