SunreachPlaces · Updated
When does El Capitan get sun? Sun and shade on El Cap for climbers and visitors
El Capitan's lower wall above El Capitan Meadow is in shade until 11:22 on 21 June and in sun until 17:57; in midwinter the sun reaches it from 08:14 to 16:10. Summer climbers get cool mornings and hot afternoons; the summit has sun almost from sunrise to sunset all year.
Sunreach is a 3D and AR sun tracker for iPhone and iPad, coming soon to the App Store. This guide describes the current app; planned upgrades are listed separately. Terrain coverage varies by location.
When is El Capitan in the sun?
The wall gets the sun from late morning to evening in summer and from early morning to mid-afternoon in winter, because the sun moves from the south-east (winter) to the north-east (summer) at sunrise. On 21 May it is in sun 11:02–18:00, on 21 October 09:20–17:57.
Times on the 21st of each month, 2027, Pacific time (PST/PDT), with the terrain from 2 m USGS lidar:
| Month | Lower wall (1617 m) | Hours | Summit (2306 m) | El Capitan Meadow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:32–16:57 | 8 h 25 min | 07:27–17:27 | 09:25–09:31 and 09:43–09:50 |
| February | 08:50–17:25 | 8 h 36 min | 06:58–17:56 | 08:17–10:56 and 13:41–14:37 and 16:30–16:57 |
| March | 10:05–18:21 | 8 h 16 min | 07:11–19:20 | 08:36–18:49 |
| April | 10:30–18:22 | 7 h 52 min | 06:29–19:37 | 07:30–18:35 |
| May | 11:02–18:00 | 6 h 58 min | 05:59–19:58 | 06:26–18:35 |
| June | 11:22–17:57 | 6 h 35 min | 05:51–20:15 | 06:13–18:40 |
| July | 11:13–18:10 | 6 h 57 min | 06:08–20:08 | 06:35–18:45 |
| August | 10:35–18:27 | 7 h 52 min | 06:33–19:41 | 07:33–18:40 |
| September | 09:51–18:07 | 8 h 15 min | 06:56–19:05 | 08:19–18:35 |
| October | 09:20–17:57 | 8 h 36 min | 07:30–18:25 | 08:49–11:24 and 14:14–15:08 and 17:05–17:25 |
| November | 08:07–16:29 | 8 h 22 min | 07:02–17:00 | 09:00–09:04 and 09:18–09:24 |
| December | 08:14–16:10 | 7 h 56 min | 07:23–16:59 | none |
The wall point is 37.7305° N, 119.6377° W, about 413 m above the meadow, on the line above El Capitan Meadow. Routes face different ways: a pitch round the corner from it can get sun an hour earlier or later.
Is El Capitan in the shade in the morning?
In summer, yes: the lower wall stays in shade until about 11:22 on 21 June and 11:13 on 21 July, so summer parties climb in the cool morning and the night. In winter the sun arrives early, at 08:14 in December.
That is why the usual advice for summer is to climb early, sit out the hot afternoon and continue into the night (Mountain Project forum). Spring and autumn give shorter, milder sun on the wall: 7 h 52 min on 21 April, 8 h 36 min on 21 October.
Sunreach computes this for any spot on Earth, from the real terrain around it. Get the app ↓
When does the sun leave El Capitan?
From the lower wall at 17:57 on 21 June and 16:10 on 21 December; the summit keeps the sun until 20:15 and 16:59. The last light climbs the wall from the bottom up.
In February the last light on the east side of El Capitan, at Horsetail Fall, is what makes the Yosemite Firefall.
Does El Capitan Meadow get sun in winter?
Barely: the cliffs south of the valley hide the low winter sun, and in 2027 the meadow has no direct sun at all on 57 days around the winter solstice. In summer it has sun 06:13–18:40.
For visitors watching climbers from the meadow in winter, dress for shade. Tunnel View gets sun 10:39–10:51 and 11:49–12:28 on 21 December and 06:27–18:15 on 21 June.
How accurate are these times?
About ±1 minute for the geometry: the skyline comes from 2 m USGS 3DEP lidar within 2 km and 40 m terrain beyond. On a vertical wall a point a few metres to the side can face differently, so treat the wall times as typical for that part of the face.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best season to climb El Capitan?
Spring and autumn are the usual seasons. Summer is hot: the lower wall is in sun 11:22–17:57 on 21 June, 6 h 35 min of afternoon sun. In autumn it has 8 h 36 min on 21 October, starting earlier in the day.
Is the Nose in the sun in the afternoon?
The lower wall above El Capitan Meadow, where the point on this page is, is in afternoon sun all year: until 17:57 in June and 16:10 in December. Exact times vary pitch by pitch, since the wall turns from south-west to south-east around the prow.
When does El Capitan get sunset light?
The summit keeps the sun until 20:15 on 21 June and 16:59 on 21 December, close to the flat-horizon sunset; the lower wall loses it earlier.
Sources
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