Hurricane Pass (Heading Towards Alaskan Basin) - Jedediah Smith Wilderness Targhee National Forest - Jackson, WY
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44.0667° N110.8840° WBortle 1Denver

Jedediah Smith Wilderness Photography Guide

Wilderness Area in Teton County, Wyoming

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 238°–305°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: Brian Saunders · CC BY 2.0 · source

Jedediah Smith Wilderness is a wilderness area in Teton County, Wyoming. It sits roughly 42 km (26 mi) NNE of Driggs.

The Jedediah Smith Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Designated wilderness by Congress in 1984, Jedediah Smith Wilderness is within Caribou-Targhee National Forest and borders Grand Teton National Park. Spanning along the western slopes of the Teton Range, the wilderness ensures a high level of protection to this delicate ecosystem. Jedediah Smith Wilderness is an integral part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.From the Wikipedia article “Jedediah Smith Wilderness”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Driggs
42 km (26 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
July
39% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
3.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:02 PM
sunset 6:41 PM

Light at Jedediah Smith Wilderness

Live
Sunrise
7:45 AM
Sunset
6:33 PM
Golden hour AM
7:27 AM – 8:25 AM
Golden hour PM
5:53 PM – 6:51 PM
Blue hour AM
7:16 AM – 7:27 AM
Blue hour PM
6:51 PM – 7:02 PM
Full darkness
8:09 PM – 6:10 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
4:01 PM / 1:34 AM
Day length
10h 48m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Jedediah Smith Wilderness 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 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:28 AM90° E7:36 PM271° W46°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:41 AM56° NE9:11 PM305° NW69°15h 30m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:11 AM89° E7:23 PM271° W46°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:56 AM123° ESE4:49 PM238° WSW22°8h 53m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:24 AM7:56 AM8:41 AM4:26 PM5:11 PM5:43 PM9h 15m
February6:54 AM7:24 AM8:04 AM5:13 PM5:53 PM6:23 PM10h 30m
March7:08 AM7:37 AM8:15 AM6:52 PM7:30 PM7:59 PM11h 53m
April6:11 AM6:41 AM7:20 AM7:29 PM8:07 PM8:38 PM13h 27m
May5:25 AM5:58 AM6:40 AM8:02 PM8:43 PM9:17 PM14h 45m
June5:04 AM5:41 AM6:25 AM8:25 PM9:09 PM9:45 PM15h 28m
July5:20 AM5:55 AM6:38 AM8:22 PM9:05 PM9:40 PM15h 10m
August5:57 AM6:28 AM7:08 AM7:50 PM8:30 PM9:01 PM14h 02m
September6:34 AM7:03 AM7:42 AM6:58 PM7:36 PM8:05 PM12h 32m
October7:10 AM7:39 AM8:18 AM6:02 PM6:41 PM7:10 PM11h 02m
November6:48 AM7:20 AM8:03 AM4:15 PM4:59 PM5:30 PM9h 39m
December7:19 AM7:52 AM8:40 AM3:59 PM4:47 PM5:20 PM8h 54m

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 Jedediah Smith Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 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.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
March5:17 AM – 5:57 AM0.714°SSE → SSE
April3:13 AM – 4:53 AM1.716°SSE → S
May1:18 AM – 3:48 AM2.517°SSE → S
June11:34 PM – 3:14 AM3.717°SSE → SSW
July11:20 PM – 1:50 AM2.517°S → SSW
August10:22 PM – 11:52 PM1.516°S → SSW
September9:15 PM – 9:45 PM0.513°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
DecemberBelow 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 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (77%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F333251647380909082725333
Low °F-32-34-21-10622292818-9-23-32
Precip. (in)3.13.13.03.23.12.81.41.62.02.63.13.5

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 Jedediah Smith Wilderness, closest first.

Mountain Pass
Jackass Pass4.4 km away · Teton County · 2,591 m
Waterfall
Rainbow Falls8.4 km away · Teton County · 2,059 m
Waterfall
Cascade Acres9.0 km away · Teton County · 2,123 m
Terraced FallsWaterfall
Terraced Falls9.1 km away · Teton County · 2,102 m
Elk MountainMountain Peak
Elk Mountain12 km away · Teton County · 3,268 m
Owl PeakMountain Peak
Owl Peak12 km away · Teton County · 3,229 m
Waterfall
Cave Falls13 km away · Teton County · 1,915 m
Mountain Pass
Moose Basin Divide13 km away · Teton County
Bechler FallsWaterfall
Bechler Falls14 km away · Teton County · 1,933 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
July has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.
What time is golden hour at Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:02 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:41 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:18 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 56° in June to 123° in December; sunset ranges from 305° to 238°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Jedediah Smith Wilderness?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Jedediah Smith Wilderness from Driggs?
About 42 km (26 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.