# SunCast for Hikers & Campers — Plan Shade, Sunrise & Camp Spots

Plan hikes and campsites with the sun on your side. See where the sun will rise, where shade will fall, and which side of the ridge to camp on — for any trail, any day.

Canonical HTML: https://suncastapp.com/solutions/hiker
Last updated: 2026-07-14

## Direct Answer

SunCast shows exactly where shade will fall and when the sun will rise — so your tent, your hammock, and your hike all land in the right spot.

## How It Works
1. Find your spot on the map
2. See where sun and shade will fall
3. Set up on the right side

## Built for the Job
- **AR Sun Tracker**: Stand at your campsite and watch where the sun will be at sunrise, midday, and sunset — before you set anything up.
- **Realistic Shadow Mapping**: See realistic 3D shadows from real terrain — ridges, peaks, valleys — so you know which side keeps shade longest and which catches the first light.
- **Cloud & Weather Forecast**: Hourly cloud cover and forecast — find the clearest window for a summit push or a sunrise hike, and avoid getting caught out by the wrong weather.

## FAQ

### Does SunCast work without internet?

The AR view and all sun position calculations work fully offline. In practice the 3D map needs internet to load map data, and the cloud and weather forecast needs a connection to fetch the latest conditions.

### What's the difference between civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight?

All three describe how far the sun is below the horizon after sunset or before sunrise. Civil twilight is the brightest — the sky is still lit enough for most outdoor activities without artificial light. Nautical twilight is dimmer, when the horizon is still visible at sea but artificial light is generally needed on land. Astronomical twilight is the darkest phase, ending when the sky is fully dark and stars are unaffected by sunlight. The Sun Timetable shows precise times for all three, for any location and date.

### Can SunCast show where the sun will be on a future date?

Yes. Pick any date — past or future — and any location, and SunCast shows the full sun path, sunrise and sunset times, and shadow positions for that moment.

### How accurate is the sun position?

SunCast uses precise astronomical calculations — accurate enough for professional photography, architecture, and location scouting. The sun moves gradually enough that results stay consistent across an entire neighborhood.