Located in Gallatin County, Montana, Lee Metcalf Wilderness is a wilderness area. It sits roughly 18.0 km (11.2 mi) SSW of Big Sky.
The Lee Metcalf Wilderness is located in the northern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1983, this rugged alpine wilderness is divided into four separated parcels typified by complex mountain topography: Bear Trap Canyon unit, Spanish Peaks unit, Taylor-Hilgard unit, and Monument Mountains unit. The Bear Trap Canyon unit is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (an agency within the Department of the Interior) and comprises a region of canyonlands adjacent to the Madison River. The other three sections of the wilderness are jointly managed by Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Gallatin National Forests, both of which are a part of the Department of Agriculture. The wilderness was named after the late Montana congressman Lee Metcalf.From the Wikipedia article “Lee Metcalf Wilderness”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lee Metcalf Wilderness the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:30 AM | 90° E | 7:38 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:39 AM | 55° NE | 9:17 PM | 306° NW | 68° | 15h 38m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:14 AM | 89° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:02 AM | 124° ESE | 4:47 PM | 237° WSW | 21° | 8h 45m |
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 | 7:29 AM | 8:02 AM | 8:48 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:10 PM | 5:43 PM | 9h 09m |
| February | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 7:10 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:01 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:42 PM | 13h 30m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:40 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 52m |
| June | 5:01 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:24 AM | 8:30 PM | 9:15 PM | 9:53 PM | 15h 37m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:11 PM | 9:47 PM | 15h 18m |
| August | 5:56 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 06m |
| September | 6:36 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:22 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:42 PM | 7:12 PM | 11h 00m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:30 PM | 9h 33m |
| December | 7:25 AM | 7:59 AM | 8:47 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:19 PM | 8h 47m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Lee Metcalf Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:31 AM – 5:51 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:30 AM – 4:50 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:29 AM – 3:39 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:51 PM – 3:01 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:34 PM – 1:44 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:30 PM – 11:40 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:20 PM – 9:40 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.92 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 July as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (74%). 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 | 42 | 48 | 62 | 72 | 82 | 89 | 98 | 94 | 88 | 79 | 62 | 45 |
| Low °F | -28 | -35 | -21 | -4 | 12 | 24 | 32 | 32 | 21 | -3 | -27 | -32 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
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 wilderness area
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
- 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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Lee Metcalf Wilderness, closest first.
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfall
Scenic Viewpoint
Hot Spring
Lake
LakeWaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Yellow Mule Cabin6.3 km (3.9 mi) · reservable
- Bear Creek Cabin (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)8.5 km (5.3 mi) · reservable
- Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)8.5 km (5.3 mi) · reservable
- Eldridge Guard Station12.9 km (8.0 mi) · reservable
- Wapiti Cabin16.5 km (10.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lee Metcalf Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Lee Metcalf Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lee Metcalf Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lee Metcalf Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lee Metcalf Wilderness?
How far is Lee Metcalf Wilderness from Big Sky?
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.