Reference
the good light
The Las Vegas golden hour calendar
Sunrise, sunset and the golden hour window for Las Vegas, every month of the year. These times are computed fresh every hour rather than copied from somewhere, so the page is right today and will still be right next year.
Today in Las Vegas · September 30
- Sunrise
- 6:35 AM
- Morning light stays soft until 7:09 AM
- Sunset
- 6:25 PM
- Evening golden hour starts at 5:51 PM
Golden hour in Las Vegas is not an hour. It runs between 34 and 40 minutes depending on the month — shortest in March, longest in December. The sun drops steeply at this latitude, so the warm, low, flattering light people picture when they say “golden hour” is a narrow window, not a leisurely one. That is why a session here starts on time rather than roughly on time.
The desert adds a second complication. Between June and September the evening window technically exists, but standing in it is unpleasant and it is genuinely hard on anyone pregnant or holding a newborn. In those months the better light is the hour after sunrise, when the ground has cooled overnight. The table below recommends sunrise for exactly those four months and evening for the other eight.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Evening golden hour | Window | Book for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:50 AM | 4:49 PM | 4:11 PM – 4:49 PM | 39 min | 4:11 PMevening session |
| February | 6:27 AM | 5:21 PM | 4:46 PM – 5:21 PM | 36 min | 4:46 PMevening session |
| March | 6:51 AM | 6:48 PM | 6:14 PM – 6:48 PM | 34 min | 6:14 PMevening session |
| April | 6:07 AM | 7:14 PM | 6:40 PM – 7:14 PM | 34 min | 6:40 PMevening session |
| May | 5:34 AM | 7:40 PM | 7:03 PM – 7:40 PM | 37 min | 7:03 PMevening session |
| June | 5:22 AM | 7:59 PM | 7:21 PM – 7:59 PM | 38 min | 5:22 AMsunrise session |
| July | 5:35 AM | 7:57 PM | 7:20 PM – 7:57 PM | 37 min | 5:35 AMsunrise session |
| August | 5:58 AM | 7:30 PM | 6:55 PM – 7:30 PM | 35 min | 5:58 AMsunrise session |
| September | 6:23 AM | 6:47 PM | 6:13 PM – 6:47 PM | 34 min | 6:23 AMsunrise session |
| October | 6:47 AM | 6:04 PM | 5:29 PM – 6:04 PM | 35 min | 5:29 PMevening session |
| November | 6:17 AM | 4:32 PM | 3:54 PM – 4:32 PM | 38 min | 3:54 PMevening session |
| December | 6:44 AM | 4:27 PM | 3:47 PM – 4:27 PM | 40 min | 3:47 PMevening session |
Times are for the 15th of each month at 36.1699°N, -115.1398°W, in Pacific time, and include daylight saving. A thermometer marks the four months when a sunrise session is the kinder choice.
Using it
What the numbers mean for a session
Arrive when golden hour starts, not when it ends. The column above gives the start time. Getting there then means the first frames are already in the good light instead of the last few being rushed as it goes.
Winter closes parks before sunset. This is the part that surprises people. Red Rock Canyon’s Scenic Drive closes at 5pm from November through February, and Floyd Lamb Park closes at 5pm from October through March — both at or before sunset. A December golden hour session has to happen somewhere that is still open. The permit guide lists the hours for every venue in the valley.
Summer sunrise is early. In June, sunrise is 5:22 AM, which is before several parks open their gates. Worth checking before planning one.
The light is not only about the hour. An overcast afternoon or open shade can be kinder than a harsh clear golden hour, and an in-home session near a north-facing window works at almost any time of day. The calendar is a starting point, not a rule.
Ready when you are
Want help picking a time?
Tell me the month and who is coming, and I will suggest the hour that will actually be comfortable on the day.
Monday – Sunday, 9am – 7pm