Mount Fitz Roy: what time does it glow at sunrise?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: First light on Fitz Roy at 06:03; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:39. Be at Laguna de los Tres or the El Chaltén road viewpoint by 05:33.
Fitz Roy's east face catches the first sun over the steppe and burns orange: the famous "Fitz Roy on fire". From El Chaltén you can see it from the edge of town; Laguna de los Tres is right below it.
Fri 6 November 2026
First light 06:03
First light on Fitz Roy at 06:03; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:39. Be at Laguna de los Tres or the El Chaltén road viewpoint by 05:33.
| 05:33 | Arrive at Laguna de los Tres or the El Chaltén road viewpoint |
| 06:03 | First light: the very top turns red |
| 06:14 | Sunrise on a flat horizon here (the valley stays in shade longer) |
| 06:39 | Glow fades to gold, then white |
Plan it
Laguna de los Tres is a 10 km hike from town with a steep last hour: start around 3 am, or camp at Poincenot. From town, the viewpoint on Ruta 23 just south of El Chaltén is a 5-minute drive. The glow needs a clear sky towards the east as well as over the peak.
Through the year
| 15th of | First light | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| January | 05:58 | 05:58–06:38 |
| February | 06:51 | 06:51–07:26 |
| March | 07:38 | 07:38–08:11 |
| April | 08:25 | 08:25–08:59 |
| May | 09:07 | 09:07–09:45 |
| June | 09:36 | 09:36–10:18 |
| July | 09:31 | 09:31–10:11 |
| August | 08:50 | 08:50–09:26 |
| September | 07:48 | 07:48–08:21 |
| October | 06:44 | 06:44–07:18 |
| November | 05:50 | 05:50–06:27 |
| December | 05:30 | 05:30–06:11 |
Mount Fitz Roy by month
Questions
What time is the sunrise glow on Fitz Roy?
6 Nov 2026: First light on Fitz Roy at 06:03; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:39. Be at Laguna de los Tres or the El Chaltén road viewpoint by 05:33. The time moves through the year; pick your date above.
How much earlier does Fitz Roy catch the sun than the valley?
About 11 minutes before a sunrise on a flat horizon at Laguna de los Tres or the El Chaltén road viewpoint, and the valley itself stays in the mountains' shadow for longer.
Which month has the earliest and latest first light?
January 05:58, February 06:51, March 07:38, April 08:25, May 09:07, June 09:36, July 09:31, August 08:50, September 07:48, October 06:44, November 05:50, December 05:30 (15th of each month).
How is this calculated?
A summit high above its surroundings looks down on its own horizon, so it sees the sun before anything below it. For each date we find the moment the sun's upper edge clears the skyline as seen from the summit (allowing for the dip of the horizon, refraction and higher ridges nearby). The red, then orange, then gold glow lasts until the sun is about 5° higher. Expect the real moment within about 5 minutes.
Summit 3,405 m. Times are local (America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos).