Sun path · San Francisco
Sunrise & sunset direction in San Francisco
See which way the sun rises and sets in San Francisco, with the full arc showing elevation against compass direction. Dashed curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice for comparison.
Drag the timeline to see where the sun will be in the sky.
Sun path in San Francisco on Wed, Sep 23
The sun rises at 90°, E and sets at 270°, W in San Francisco, reaching a peak elevation of 52° at solar noon. Day length is 12h 6m, measured from sunrise to sunset.
The chart above plots the full arc of the sun across the sky. The horizontal axis is compass direction, the vertical axis is elevation. Dashed reference curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice so you can see how the arc shifts through the year.
Use the scrubber to walk through the day and read the sun's compass bearing and elevation at any moment. For photography, check which direction light will come from at your planned shoot time and whether your subject will be front-lit, side-lit or backlit.
Sunrise and sunset direction in San Francisco
Bearings are measured clockwise from north and calculated from the sun path for this location.
| Date | Sun rises | Sun sets |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 90°, E | 270°, W |
| June solstice | 59°, ENE | 301°, WNW |
| Equinox | 89°, E | 271°, W |
| December solstice | 120°, ESE | 241°, WSW |
Shooting the light in San Francisco
San Francisco’s light is ruled less by season than by the marine layer. From June through August, mornings often start under a gray sheet of fog that burns off by midday and pours back over Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate in the evening - which is exactly when it becomes a subject rather than a nuisance.
September and October are the reliably clear months, with warm evenings and clean horizons over the Pacific. Because the ocean sits due west, the city gets true over-water sunsets year-round, while sunrise light comes across the bay and lights the waterfront first.
Where photographers go
Marin Headlands (Battery Spencer)
The Golden Gate Bridge with the city behind it; evening light warms the towers and the fog, when it comes, arrives here first.
Baker Beach
The bridge from sea level at sunset; low tide leaves reflective sand in the foreground.
Twin Peaks
Blue hour over the Market Street corridor - the grid of lights switches on while the sky still holds color.
The Embarcadero
Sunrise over the East Bay backlights the Bay Bridge; the ferry building catches the first warm light.
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in San Francisco?
- On Wed, Sep 23, the sun rises in San Francisco at 90°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in San Francisco in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in San Francisco at 241°, WSW (west-southwest).
- How high does the sun get in San Francisco?
- On Wed, Sep 23, the sun reaches about 52° above the horizon at its highest point in San Francisco.
