Outdoor planning
How to find shade for a campsite or picnic
A pitch that feels comfortable when you arrive can be in full sun by mid-morning, and a shaded picnic table can lose its cover within an hour.
By SunCast team Last updated: October 14, 2026
Short answer
Decide the hours you will be there, then check where the sun will be during them. In SunCast, Terrain Shadows shows when ridges and canyon walls shade a site, and the AR Sun Tracker shows the path over your tent or table once you are there. Pick a spot where terrain, a building or dense trees sit between you and the sun for the hottest hours.
How quickly a desert camp heats up
Near Moab, Utah, on 15 July the sun rises at 06:07 MDT in the east-north-east (61°). It is 30° high by 08:53 and 45° by 10:09, and at 15:00 it stands 63° high in the south-west. A ridge rising 10° above the eastern horizon keeps a tent in shade until about 07:07; a 10° ridge to the west brings evening shade from about 19:42 (calculated with SunCast’s sun calculator).
High sun makes small shade. At 15:00 a 10 m tree there casts a shadow only about 5 m long, so a table needs to sit close to its north-east side. A canyon wall or a tall rock face to the south-west gives far more afternoon cover.
Start with the time window. A one-hour picnic and an overnight camp need different answers.
Choosing a shaded spot with SunCast
1. Set the hours you will be there
Note arrival, the hottest part of the day and, for camping, the hour you want to wake up.
2. Check terrain before you go
Open the area on the map with Terrain Shadows and step through the day. Note which pitches a ridge or canyon wall shades in the morning and which it shades in the evening.
3. Look at the path on site
At the spot, open the AR Sun Tracker and point it east for the morning and south-west for the afternoon. See whether the path passes behind a tree, rock or shelter during your hours.
4. Decide about the morning sun
Use the sunrise time and direction from Sun Times & Position Data to choose between early warmth on the tent and a cooler, shaded start.
5. Check cloud cover and keep a backup
Look at the hourly cloud cover forecast, but plan for clear skies if heat matters. Pick a second spot in case the first does not work out.
How SunCast helps outdoors
Most of these checks are about where sun and shade will be later in the day.
| SunCast feature | How it helps |
|---|---|
| AR sun path | Stand at the site and see where the sun will travel over your tent, table or hammock. |
| Terrain shadows | Shadows cast by hills, ridges and valleys as the sun moves across the day. |
| Sunrise and sunset | When light returns in the morning and when the site loses direct sun. |
| Cloud forecast | Hourly cloud cover alongside the sun’s position. |
Outdoor shade mistakes
Picking the current shadow
The shade you see on arrival may be gone by the time you need it most.
Ignoring sunrise
Morning sun can wake you early or help dry damp gear. Decide which you want.
Trusting thin tree cover
Sparse branches can look shady but still let through strong heat and glare.
Limits
SunCast helps plan sun and shade. It does not replace local safety judgement, weather alerts, park rules, fire restrictions or route planning.
Check it in SunCast
Choosing a campsite or picnic spot? Check the ridges with Terrain Shadows in SunCast before you go, then confirm the path over your pitch in AR.
Frequently asked questions
What side of a campsite gets morning sun?
The side facing the sunrise, which is east-north-east in midsummer and east-south-east in midwinter at mid-northern latitudes. Near Moab on 15 July the sun rises at 61°. Check the local sunrise direction for your date.
How do I avoid afternoon sun at a picnic?
Check where the sun will be during your picnic hours, usually somewhere between south and west in the northern hemisphere, and choose a spot where terrain, a building, a shelter or dense trees block that direction.
Can cloud cover replace shade planning?
No. Cloud cover is a forecast and can change. If heat or exposure matters, choose a spot that still has physical shade.
