GoldCast · Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI

Sunset Tonight in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


Reading tonight's sky
Sunset
Golden hour
Sky coverage
Atmosphere
Horizon clarity

GoldCast sunset forecast — LightCast Suite
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The app is more than the score. Get a full 7-day golden hour outlook, cloud layer timing, and a map of better light nearby. Set notification preferences so you can plan shoots days out, not just check tonight.

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Frequently asked
Will the sunset be good tonight in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through GoldCast's scoring model. Above 70 is worth going out. Below 40, stay home. The score updates daily.
What makes a good sunset in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
Pictured Rocks is a 42-mile stretch of sandstone cliffs along the south shore of Lake Superior, where mineral seeps have stained the rock in bands of red, orange, tan, and green. The cliffs face north over the open expanse of Lake Superior, so the primary sunset light comes from the west and rakes across the cliff faces in warm angle. Miners Beach and Miners Castle overlook face northwest across the lake giving a partially open horizon. Lake Superior's scale means the color on the water extends nearly to the horizon on good evenings.
What time is sunset in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore tonight?
Pictured Rocks sunset ranges from around 4:45 PM in December to 9:15 PM in June. Tonight's exact time is shown in the score card above, updated daily from live weather data.


What makes a good sunset?

GoldCast scores six atmospheric variables weighted by how much each one actually affects the light. A clear sky isn't always best.

High Cloud
20–80%
Cirrus clouds scatter warm light across the sky. Too little means a bare sky. Too much blocks everything.
Humidity
Under 50%
Low humidity keeps colors vivid and punchy. Above 80% produces milky, washed-out tones.
Horizon Cloud
Clear
Low cloud at the horizon blocks the sun at peak warmth. A small gap makes all the difference.
Post-Storm
Best skies
Rain clears the air and leaves textured cloud at altitude. Often the most dramatic light of the year.

Score guide
75–100
Epic
Rare. Multiple factors aligned. Don't miss it.
55–74
Great
Strong showing expected. Go if you can.
35–54
Decent
Modest but workable. Worth a short trip.
0–34
Flat
Uninspiring sky expected. Save your time.

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