Lehman Creek Cascades is a waterfall in White Pine County, Nevada. It lies in or next to Great Basin National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 174 km (108 mi) NW of Enoch.
Wikidata describes it as: “The Lehman Creek Cascades are really a series of small rapids and cascades on a rare perennial stream in the main part of Great Basin National Park…”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lehman Creek Cascades the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:41 AM | 90° E | 6:49 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:12 AM | 59° ENE | 8:07 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 55m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:25 AM | 89° E | 6:36 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:53 AM | 120° ESE | 4:19 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 25m |
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 | 6:26 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:36 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:39 PM | 5:08 PM | 9h 44m |
| February | 6:02 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:06 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 6:23 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:44 PM | 7:11 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 5:33 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 4:55 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:13 PM | 14h 18m |
| June | 4:39 AM | 5:12 AM | 5:52 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 53m |
| July | 4:53 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 39m |
| August | 5:23 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 42m |
| September | 5:52 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:14 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:24 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:27 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 5:52 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:00 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:53 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:32 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:16 PM | 4:46 PM | 9h 27m |
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 Lehman Creek Cascades, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 4:44 AM – 4:54 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:53 AM – 5:13 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:49 AM – 4:19 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 11:51 PM – 3:31 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:04 PM – 3:04 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 9:57 PM – 1:47 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:13 PM – 11:43 PM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:18 PM – 9:38 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:28 PM – 7:38 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.94 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). 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 | 61 | 61 | 74 | 81 | 91 | 98 | 101 | 99 | 95 | 83 | 71 | 58 |
| Low °F | -18 | -3 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 27 | 43 | 41 | 26 | 10 | -1 | -14 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
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.
- 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.
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 Lehman Creek Cascades, closest first.
Dark Sky Place
Mountain Peak
Natural Arch
Natural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Upper Lehman Creek Campground408 m · reservable
- Lower Lehman Creek Campground465 m · reservable
- Dump Station2.6 km (1.6 mi)
- Grey Cliffs Campground3.4 km (2.1 mi) · reservable
- Wheeler Peak Campground5.2 km (3.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lehman Creek Cascades?
What time is golden hour at Lehman Creek Cascades?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lehman Creek Cascades?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lehman Creek Cascades?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lehman Creek Cascades?
How far is Lehman Creek Cascades from Enoch?
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.