Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint — a state park in Deschutes County, Oregon — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Redmond, about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) away (Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint lies W of town).
Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint (also known as Cline Falls State Park) is a state park near Redmond, Oregon, United States. It is located on the Deschutes River. The park covers 9 acres (36,000 m2). It is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.From the Wikipedia article “Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:09 AM | 90° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:22 AM | 55° NE | 8:53 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 31m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:53 AM | 89° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:38 AM | 123° ESE | 4:30 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 51m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:06 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:24 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:24 PM | 9h 14m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 29m |
| March | 6:49 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:40 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 27m |
| May | 5:05 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 47m |
| June | 4:45 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:06 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:28 PM | 15h 30m |
| July | 5:01 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:19 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:23 PM | 15h 11m |
| August | 5:38 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:43 PM | 14h 02m |
| September | 6:16 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:47 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:52 PM | 11h 02m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:45 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:39 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 38m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:22 AM | 3:40 PM | 4:27 PM | 5:01 PM | 8h 53m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:58 AM – 5:38 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:55 AM – 4:25 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:01 AM – 3:31 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:18 PM – 2:48 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:03 PM – 1:33 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:04 PM – 11:34 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:56 PM – 9:26 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.5 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 65 | 65 | 77 | 84 | 94 | 100 | 103 | 102 | 98 | 88 | 72 | 58 |
| Low °F | -8 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 26 | 33 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 17 | 3 | -6 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 3.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this state park
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, closest first.
Waterfall
Waterfall
CaveWaterfall
State ParkWaterfall
State Park
State Park
Covered BridgeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- South Shore Group Sites26 km (16 mi)
- South Shore Group Campground26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Haystack Campground (East Shore)27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Indian Ford Campground30 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint?
How far is Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint from Redmond?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.