Sunrise Hub
Sunrise Almanac
A decade of daily sunrise observations, distilled into data. Introducing the Unrau Scale—our proprietary rating system for Moraine Lake sunrise quality.
2025 Season Data Coming January 2026The Unrau Scale
Developed by Mark Unrau through 10+ years of daily sunrise observations at Moraine Lake, the Unrau Scale is a standardized rating system that captures what makes a sunrise truly exceptional.
The Formula
Peak Illumination
How dramatically the Ten Peaks light up during golden hour. A perfect 10 means full alpenglow across all peaks, with vibrant pink and orange hues.
Visibility
Clarity of the lake and mountain views. Perfect conditions create mirror-like reflections on the turquoise water.
Cloud Drama
How photogenic the sky conditions are. The best sunrises often feature dramatic cloud formations that catch fire with color.
Crowd Factor
Lower crowds mean a more peaceful, immersive experience. This inverse scale rewards quiet mornings at the Rockpile.
Rating Tiers
What each score range means for your sunrise experience
Legendary
Once-in-a-season conditions. Full alpenglow, mirror reflections, dramatic clouds catching fire, and peaceful crowds. These mornings create images that define Moraine Lake. Happens perhaps 3-5 times per season.
Exceptional
Outstanding conditions where most elements align. Strong alpenglow, good visibility, and memorable sky. You'll leave knowing you witnessed something special.
Great
A solid sunrise that's absolutely worth the early wake-up. Good color, decent visibility, and a beautiful experience. Most first-time visitors would be delighted with this.
Good
Pleasant conditions with some limitations—perhaps haze affecting visibility or overcast skies muting colors. Still a beautiful location, and the experience remains worthwhile.
Fair
Below-average conditions due to weather or smoke. The sunrise may be muted, but Moraine Lake remains stunning. Focus on the experience and the journey rather than the light.
Challenging
Weather-impacted mornings—rain, heavy fog, or extreme smoke. These days remind us that nature is unpredictable. We still make the journey because sometimes the weather breaks unexpectedly.
Remember: Even a "Fair" sunrise at Moraine Lake is better than most sunrises anywhere else. The Valley of the Ten Peaks is extraordinary in any light.
2025 Season Data
We documented every sunrise of the 2025 season. This comprehensive dataset will be available in January 2026, offering unprecedented insights into Moraine Lake sunrise patterns.
Season Overview (Coming Soon)
Daily Sunrise Log Coming January 2026
We're digitizing 266 daily field reports from the 2025 season. Each entry will include Unrau Score, weather conditions, visibility notes, and memorable observations.
Search by Date
Look up conditions for any specific date in the season
Filter by Score
Find all Legendary, Exceptional, or Great days
Monthly Trends
Compare average scores across months
Photo Gallery
See actual sunrise photos from top-rated days
Experience It Yourself
Data tells only part of the story. The real magic happens when you're standing at the Rockpile, watching the Ten Peaks catch fire in the early light. Join us for a sunrise you'll never forget.
"I've witnessed over 1,000 sunrises at Moraine Lake. No two are ever the same, and even after all these years, the magic never fades."— Mark Unrau, Founder