Scotts Bluff National Monument is a National Monument in Nebraska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Scotts Bluff
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Scotts Bluff. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Botanical Gardens (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Scotts Bluff the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:49 PM | 242° | 9h 29m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:28 PM | 254° | 10h 37m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:36 PM | 284° | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:36 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:08 PM | 297° | 14h 33m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:32 PM | 303° | 15h 12m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:29 PM | 300° | 14h 56m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:57 PM | 290° | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:36 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:06 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:15 PM | 259° | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:27 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:36 PM | 246° | 9h 50m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:26 PM | 239° | 9h 09m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.8346, -103.7071); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Scotts Bluff, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:25 AM | 1.0 | 16° |
| April | 2:26 AM – 4:26 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:24 AM – 3:34 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| June | 10:43 PM – 3:03 AM | 4.3 | 19° |
| July | 10:33 PM – 1:43 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 11:42 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:41 PM – 9:41 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers at Scotts Bluff are generally dry and high temperatures are usually in the 80's and 90's, although they can reach above 100 on occasion. Hikers are strongly advised to carry water. Winter daytime temperatures are usually in the 40's or low 50's, with overnight lows below freezing and, on occasion, below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Although it can be windy any time of the year, spring is the windiest season.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (63%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Visitors traveling east-west on Interstate 80 can exit at Kimball, Nebraska and drive 45 miles north on Nebraska Highway 71. Follow National Park Service signs three miles west of Gering, Nebraska to Old Oregon Trail Road. Turn west onto Old Oregon Trail Road and follow it approximately 2 miles to the monument visitor center on the right. Visitors travelling along the North Platte River using US Highway 26 or Nebraska Highway 92, should follow the National Park Service signs.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
NE
WY
IL/IA
SD