Chagrin Falls is a waterfall in Cuyahoga County, Ohio at about 268 m (879 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 700 m SW of Chagrin Falls.
The Chagrin Falls waterfalls are waterfalls spouting off of the Chagrin River in the center of the village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. At the waterfall base, a viewing area is available. The falls were one of the largest industrial centers in the 1800s and are responsible for the growth of the village around them.From the Wikipedia article “Chagrin Falls (waterfall)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Chagrin Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:30 AM | 90° E | 7:38 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:53 AM | 57° ENE | 9:03 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 11m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:14 AM | 89° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:49 AM | 121° ESE | 5:00 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 10m |
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 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:51 PM | 9h 31m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:21 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:28 PM | 10h 38m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:00 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:18 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 19m |
| May | 5:36 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:10 PM | 14h 30m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:34 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:35 PM | 15h 09m |
| July | 5:33 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:46 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:32 PM | 14h 53m |
| August | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:56 PM | 13h 51m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:05 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:08 PM | 6:46 PM | 7:14 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:37 PM | 9h 52m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:29 PM | 9h 12m |
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 Chagrin Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), 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 | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:55 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:56 AM – 4:56 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:54 AM – 4:04 AM | 3.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 11:12 PM – 3:42 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:02 PM – 2:12 AM | 3.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 10:12 PM – 12:12 AM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 9:12 PM – 10:12 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:19 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.0 | 10° | 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.09 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ 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 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (84%). 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 | 62 | 66 | 79 | 79 | 92 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 94 | 86 | 76 | 65 |
| Low °F | -10 | -11 | -1 | 18 | 27 | 40 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 29 | 13 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
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 Chagrin Falls, closest first.
WaterfallWaterfall
Scenic ViewpointWaterfallScenic Viewpoint
State ParkWaterfall
Botanical Garden
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chagrin Falls?
What time is golden hour at Chagrin Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Chagrin Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Chagrin Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Chagrin Falls?
How far is Chagrin Falls from Chagrin Falls?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, Wikipedia. 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.