South Fork Falls — a waterfall in Grant County, Oregon at about 1,087 m (3,566 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 52 km (32 mi) WSW of John Day.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At South Fork Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:02 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:15 AM | 56° NE | 8:46 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 31m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:46 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:31 AM | 123° ESE | 4:23 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 52m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:18 PM | 9h 15m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 29m |
| March | 6:42 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:12 PM | 13h 27m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:52 PM | 14h 46m |
| June | 4:38 AM | 5:15 AM | 5:59 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:21 PM | 15h 29m |
| July | 4:54 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:15 PM | 15h 11m |
| August | 5:31 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 02m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:39 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 6:44 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:45 PM | 11h 02m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:38 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:33 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 38m |
| December | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:15 AM | 3:33 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:54 PM | 8h 53m |
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 South Fork Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:51 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:48 AM – 4:18 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:54 AM – 3:24 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:11 PM – 2:41 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:56 PM – 1:26 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 11:27 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 9:19 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 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 July as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (75%). 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 | 58 | 60 | 74 | 82 | 92 | 99 | 103 | 101 | 99 | 87 | 69 | 57 |
| Low °F | -10 | -2 | 12 | 19 | 24 | 30 | 40 | 37 | 28 | 13 | 1 | -10 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
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 South Fork Falls, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Wilderness Area
Natural Arch
Hot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Deer Creek Guard Station Cabin16.1 km (10.0 mi) · reservable
- Murderers Creek Guard Station22 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Sugar Creek Campground And Day Use Area23 km (14 mi)
- Wolf Creek Industrial Campground25 km (16 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph South Fork Falls?
What time is golden hour at South Fork Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at South Fork Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from South Fork Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at South Fork Falls?
How far is South Fork Falls from John Day?
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.