What the times mean
- Sunrise and sunset – the upper edge of the sun on a flat horizon. Mountains around you can hide the sun for much longer: in a deep valley the sun may set an hour or more earlier. On a high summit you see a little further over the curve of the Earth, so the day is a few minutes longer – that is what the height above the horizon is for.
- Civil twilight – the sun is less than 6° below the horizon. On open terrain there is enough light to walk without a headlamp; in a forest it gets dark much sooner.
- Golden hour – the sun lower than 6° above the horizon: the best light for photos.
The calculation uses the standard astronomical formulas and is accurate to a minute or two. Times are shown in the time zone of your device. Plan the tour with the Hiking Time Calculator.
Mountains are not a calculator. Weather, conditions, fitness and experience change everything. Use these numbers for planning, and turn back in time.