Sunset spots in and around Sacramento, California

A richly colored photograph of a sunset reflected off of a river.

Sac may be flat, but our sunsets sure aren’t. | Photo by @photos.by.vicky

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Tomorrow marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year with the sun rising at 5:41 a.m. + setting at 8:33 p.m.— nearly 15 hours of continuous daylight.

From sunflower fields to rooftop restaurants, we thought we’d look at some of the best spots in the area to see the city awash with twilight colors in order to celebrate the cosmically-aligned event.

🚢 River Walks

While several sections of the Sacramento River trail would make for a scenic vista — the shimmering reflections of sunbeams off the river is always a delight to our minds — the stretch between the Crocker Museum + the Tower Bridge is hard to beat with its expansive sky views.

Pro tip: Put a trip to Old Sac on the night’s horizon, with a visit to places like Honey and the Trapcat or the River City Saloon for a drink and bite to eat.

🌇 Rooftop Rays

While rooftop spaces like Darling Aviary + Revival at the Sawyer may not provide the most direct view of the sunset — they’re perched in the urban jungle of Downtown Sac — there’s something to be said for drinking in the evening colors with a cocktail in hand.

There’s also the city’s parking garages, with Memorial Garage in particular being a favorite of ours to catch the sun go down.

🌻 Sunflower fields

Yolo County is known for its stunning sunflower fields, which we believe look even better in the golden light of a sunset. Check out the county’s guide to visiting, and consider pairing the sundown-filled evening with this sunflower experience pass to participating restaurants and farms.

🌄 From on High

To our little corner of the world — Carpenter Hill in Folsom is Sacramento County’s highest point at 831 ft. above sea level, providing the most sweeping view of our valley + the mountainous horizon line to the west. It’s also a nondescript, residential spot that’s easily accessed from Exit 27 of Hwy 50.

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