Red Rock Falls is a waterfall in Madera County, California at about 1,266 m (4,154 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Ahwahnee, about 11.0 km (6.8 mi) away (Red Rock Falls lies NE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Red Rock Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:39 AM | 59° ENE | 8:24 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:10 AM | 119° ESE | 4:45 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 35m |
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 | 6:44 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 52m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 6:44 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:32 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:59 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:30 PM | 14h 11m |
| June | 5:07 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 44m |
| July | 5:20 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:50 PM | 14h 30m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:34 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:11 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:17 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:17 PM | 10h 10m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:12 PM | 9h 36m |
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 Red Rock Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:57 AM – 5:17 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:07 AM – 4:47 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:06 AM – 3:56 AM | 3.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| June | 10:16 PM – 3:36 AM | 5.3 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:10 PM – 2:10 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:30 PM – 12:10 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:50 PM – 8:10 PM | 0.3 | 13° | 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.49 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 15% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). 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 | 60 | 64 | 67 | 72 | 86 | 91 | 96 | 91 | 90 | 82 | 74 | 62 |
| Low °F | -9 | -7 | -4 | -3 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 34 | 23 | 14 | -9 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 4.8 |
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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Red Rock Falls, closest first.
Waterfall
State Park
Covered BridgeWaterfallWaterfall
Fire Lookout
Fire Lookout
WaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Summerdale Campground6.2 km (3.9 mi) · reservable
- Soquel Campground7.1 km (4.4 mi) · reservable
- Texas Flats8.2 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Kelty Meadow8.2 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Chilkoot11.5 km (7.1 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Red Rock Falls?
What time is golden hour at Red Rock Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Red Rock Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Red Rock Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Red Rock Falls?
How far is Red Rock Falls from Ahwahnee?
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.