Sun path · Toronto
Sunrise & sunset direction in Toronto
See which way the sun rises and sets in Toronto, 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 Toronto on Wed, Sep 23
The sun rises at 90°, E and sets at 270°, W in Toronto, reaching a peak elevation of 46° at solar noon. Day length is 12h 7m, 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 Toronto
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 | 56°, NE | 304°, NW |
| Equinox | 89°, E | 271°, W |
| December solstice | 122°, ESE | 238°, WSW |
Shooting the light in Toronto
Toronto’s skyline stands on the north shore of Lake Ontario, so its best views are from the water side - the islands and the harbour piers - with the lake as a clean foreground mirror. Day length swings from about fifteen and a half hours in June to just under nine in December.
Directionally, the city rewards choosing your bank of the harbour: shoot from the east (Polson Pier, Riverdale) and the sun sets behind the CN Tower; shoot from the west (Humber Bay) and the evening sun frontlights the skyline warm while dawn turns it into a silhouette over the lake.
Where photographers go
Toronto Islands (Ward’s & Centre)
The skyline across the harbour at golden hour, with ferries crossing the frame; stay for blue hour on the last boats back.
Riverdale Park East
The classic hillside sunset-behind-skyline view, framed by the Prince Edward Viaduct treeline.
Humber Bay Arch Bridge
Sunrise silhouettes the skyline over the lake; evening reverses it into warm frontlight.
Polson Pier
Point-blank skyline across the channel as the sun drops directly behind the CN Tower in the shoulder seasons.
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in Toronto?
- On Wed, Sep 23, the sun rises in Toronto at 90°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in Toronto in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in Toronto at 238°, WSW (west-southwest).
- How high does the sun get in Toronto?
- On Wed, Sep 23, the sun reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point in Toronto.
