Sierra Ancha Wilderness is a wilderness area in Gila County, Arizona. The nearest town is Tonto Basin, about 38 km (24 mi) away (Sierra Ancha Wilderness lies E of town).
The Sierra Ancha Wilderness The Sierra Ancha Wilderness is located about 100 miles east of Phoenix, between Globe and Young. Though fairly small at 32 square miles, it contains some of the most rugged and inaccessible terrain in Arizona. Most of the Sierra Ancha Wilderness lies at an elevation of about 7000 feet. But along the eastern border, is a 20,850 acres (8,440 ha) U.S. wilderness area on the Tonto National Forest in the state of Arizona. The terrain varies from box canyons to high cliffs and pine-covered mountains. Elevations range from lows of about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) to a high of 7,733 feet (2,357 m) at Aztec Peak. It is one of two wilderness areas within the Sierra Ancha mountain range.From the Wikipedia article “Sierra Ancha Wilderness”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Sierra Ancha Wilderness the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:28 AM | 90° E | 6:36 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:14 AM | 61° ENE | 7:38 PM | 299° WNW | 80° | 14h 24m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:12 AM | 89° E | 6:22 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:25 AM | 118° ESE | 5:19 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 54m |
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
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:02 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 09m |
| February | 6:43 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:34 PM | 10h 59m |
| March | 6:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:57 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:28 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:27 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:21 PM | 13h 01m |
| May | 4:56 AM | 5:23 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:46 PM | 13h 55m |
| June | 4:44 AM | 5:13 AM | 5:50 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:06 PM | 14h 23m |
| July | 4:56 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:01 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:04 PM | 14h 11m |
| August | 5:20 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:38 PM | 13h 25m |
| September | 5:43 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:57 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:04 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:16 PM | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:48 PM | 10h 25m |
| December | 6:54 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 55m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Sierra Ancha Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:03 AM – 5:43 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:05 AM – 5:05 AM | 2.0 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:13 AM – 4:23 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 11:15 PM – 3:45 AM | 4.5 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:21 PM – 3:21 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:17 PM – 1:57 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:43 PM – 11:53 PM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 7:56 PM – 9:56 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:14 PM – 7:54 PM | 0.7 | 17° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.55 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 20% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (54%). 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 | 77 | 78 | 87 | 94 | 104 | 110 | 109 | 107 | 104 | 97 | 87 | 75 |
| Low °F | 9 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 33 | 50 | 62 | 60 | 44 | 29 | 20 | 11 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
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 wilderness area
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.
Suggested gear: Lightweight tripod, Spare batteries, Headlamp, Navigation. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drones may not take off from or land in federally designated wilderness, where mechanized equipment is prohibited under the Wilderness Act.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Sierra Ancha Wilderness, closest first.
Fire Lookout
Scenic Viewpoint
WaterfallScenic Viewpoint
Natural ArchScenic Viewpoint
Wilderness AreaScenic Viewpoint
Dark Sky PlaceCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Reynolds Creek Group Camp (Id) 10.8 km (6.7 mi) · reservable
- Reynolds Creek Group Campground10.8 km (6.7 mi) · reservable
- Schoolhouse Campground (Az)23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Grapevine Group Campground25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Windy Hill Campground26 km (16 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sierra Ancha Wilderness?
How far is Sierra Ancha Wilderness from Tonto Basin?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.