Champagne Falls — a waterfall in Gallatin County, Montana at about 2,380 m (7,808 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 31 km (19 mi) SSE of Bozeman.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Champagne Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:28 AM | 90° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:36 AM | 55° NE | 9:17 PM | 306° NW | 68° | 15h 40m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:12 AM | 89° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:01 AM | 124° ESE | 4:44 PM | 237° WSW | 21° | 8h 43m |
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 | 7:27 AM | 8:01 AM | 8:48 AM | 4:20 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 07m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:22 PM | 10h 25m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:59 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 31m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:37 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:22 PM | 14h 53m |
| June | 4:58 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:21 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:15 PM | 9:52 PM | 15h 39m |
| July | 5:14 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:35 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:47 PM | 15h 20m |
| August | 5:53 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 07m |
| September | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:21 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:40 PM | 7:10 PM | 10h 59m |
| November | 6:51 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:27 PM | 9h 32m |
| December | 7:24 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:47 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:16 PM | 8h 44m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Champagne Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:29 AM – 5:49 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:29 AM – 4:39 AM | 1.2 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:29 AM – 3:39 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:52 PM – 2:52 AM | 3.0 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:35 PM – 1:35 AM | 2.0 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:30 PM – 11:40 PM | 1.2 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:19 PM – 9:39 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 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 ≈ 21.84 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ 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 40% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (74%). 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 | 44 | 47 | 62 | 72 | 83 | 88 | 97 | 92 | 86 | 77 | 62 | 44 |
| Low °F | -27 | -31 | -22 | -2 | 8 | 24 | 34 | 31 | 20 | -8 | -30 | -30 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Champagne Falls, closest first.
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Natural ArchWaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Window Rock Cabin6.1 km (3.8 mi) · reservable
- Chisholm Campground7.5 km (4.6 mi) · reservable
- Maxey Cabin7.9 km (4.9 mi) · reservable
- Hyalite Pavilion8.4 km (5.2 mi) · reservable
- Hood Creek Campground8.6 km (5.4 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Champagne Falls?
What time is golden hour at Champagne Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Champagne Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Champagne Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Champagne Falls?
How far is Champagne Falls from Bozeman?
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.