Wells Falls is a waterfall in Tompkins County, New York. The nearest town is Ithaca, about 1.2 km (0.7 mi) away (Wells Falls lies SE of town).
Wikidata describes it as: “waterfall in Ithaca, New York, United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Wells Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:10 AM | 90° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:30 AM | 57° ENE | 8:47 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 18m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:33 AM | 122° ESE | 4:37 PM | 238° WSW | 24° | 9h 04m |
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 | 7:02 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:30 PM | 9h 25m |
| February | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:13 PM | 7:41 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:56 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:17 PM | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:13 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 36m |
| June | 4:54 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:12 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:20 PM | 15h 16m |
| July | 5:09 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:24 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 59m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:18 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:54 PM | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:40 AM | 4:03 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:15 PM | 9h 48m |
| December | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:15 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:35 PM | 5:07 PM | 9h 05m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Wells Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:39 AM – 4:39 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 12:50 AM – 3:40 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:01 PM – 3:11 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:50 PM – 1:50 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 11:47 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:54 PM – 9:44 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| 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: 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 ≈ 18.83 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (82%). July is the warmest month and January 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 | 65 | 73 | 84 | 93 | 94 | 101 | 95 | 93 | 86 | 72 | 66 |
| Low °F | -12 | -18 | -7 | 12 | 25 | 35 | 46 | 46 | 33 | 23 | -7 | -2 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
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.
- 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 Wells Falls, closest first.
Waterfall
Lake
Botanical Garden
Waterfall
Waterfall
State Park
Waterfall
State Park
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Potomac Group Campground26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Blueberry Patch Campground26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Blueberry Patch Campground26 km (16 mi)
- Backbone Horse Campground27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wells Falls?
What time is golden hour at Wells Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Wells Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Wells Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Wells Falls?
How far is Wells Falls from Ithaca?
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.