Partridge Falls — a waterfall in Cook County, Minnesota at about 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Grand Portage National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 45 km (28 mi) NE of Grand Marais.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Partridge Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 19° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 89° E | 7:12 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:01 AM | 53° NE | 9:03 PM | 308° NW | 65° | 16h 03m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:59 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:47 AM | 126° SE | 4:09 PM | 235° SW | 19° | 8h 22m |
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 | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:36 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:09 PM | 8h 49m |
| February | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:54 PM | 10h 15m |
| March | 6:43 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:36 PM | 11h 51m |
| April | 5:38 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 39m |
| May | 4:45 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:09 PM | 15h 10m |
| June | 4:19 AM | 5:00 AM | 5:49 AM | 8:13 PM | 9:01 PM | 9:42 PM | 16h 01m |
| July | 4:37 AM | 5:16 AM | 6:03 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:56 PM | 9:35 PM | 15h 40m |
| August | 5:21 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 19m |
| September | 6:06 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:18 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:45 PM | 12h 37m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:12 PM | 6:44 PM | 10h 53m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:35 PM | 4:23 PM | 4:57 PM | 9h 17m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:37 AM | 3:14 PM | 4:07 PM | 4:44 PM | 8h 24m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Partridge Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through July. June gives the longest window (about 1.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° 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 | — | -6° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| April | 3:35 AM – 4:05 AM | 0.5 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:37 AM – 2:47 AM | 1.2 | 13° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:16 AM – 1:36 AM | 1.3 | 13° | SSE → S |
| July | 11:42 PM – 12:42 AM | 1.0 | 13° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:20 PM – 10:40 PM | 0.3 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| December | Below 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 ≈ 21.95 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 73% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (89%). August is the warmest month and February 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 | 42 | 41 | 54 | 53 | 62 | 64 | 75 | 74 | 72 | 64 | 56 | 47 |
| Low °F | -12 | -10 | -6 | 14 | 26 | 36 | 39 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 13 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Partridge Falls, closest first.
State Park
Natural Arch
Mountain Peak
Waterfall
Scenic Viewpoint
Fire LookoutWaterfall
State ParkWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Partridge Falls?
What time is golden hour at Partridge Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Partridge Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Partridge Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Partridge Falls?
How far is Partridge Falls from Grand Marais?
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.