Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint is a state park in Lincoln County, Oregon. The nearest town is Depoe Bay, about 3.1 km (1.9 mi) away (Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint lies SSW of town).
Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint is a state park in Lincoln County in northwestern Oregon, United States. Administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the 59-acre (24 ha) park lies along a bluff between Whale Cove and Rocky Creek. The park extends south along the Otter Crest Loop Road to the Rocky Creek Bridge. Between 1926 and 1954, the state bought land for the park from private owners and received other land for the park from the Federal government. The Civilian Conservation Corps undertook the original development of the site between 1934 and 1936. Open year-round for day use, the park has picnic tables, parking spaces, and restrooms. Attractions include watching whales, waves, and ocean birds along a rocky coast, and hiking through a forest of shore pines.From the Wikipedia article “Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Rocky Creek 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) | 7:20 AM | 90° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:31 AM | 55° NE | 9:06 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 35m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:51 AM | 123° ESE | 4:39 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 47m |
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 | 7:18 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:37 AM | 4:15 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:34 PM | 9h 11m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 27m |
| March | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:52 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:02 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:22 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:15 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 50m |
| June | 4:54 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:16 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:05 PM | 9:42 PM | 15h 34m |
| July | 5:10 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:29 AM | 8:17 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:36 PM | 15h 15m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 05m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:29 PM | 7:58 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:03 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:33 PM | 7:02 PM | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 35m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:36 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:37 PM | 5:10 PM | 8h 49m |
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 Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:20 AM – 5:40 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:18 AM – 4:38 AM | 1.3 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:16 AM – 3:36 AM | 2.3 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:35 PM – 2:55 AM | 3.3 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:19 PM – 1:39 AM | 2.3 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:18 PM – 11:38 PM | 1.3 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:09 PM – 9:39 PM | 0.5 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.41 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 65% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (83%). August is the warmest month and February 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 | 57 | 60 | 61 | 68 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 68 | 71 | 67 | 62 | 60 |
| Low °F | 32 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 49 | 50 | 52 | 50 | 39 | 35 | 30 |
| Precip. (in) | 8.6 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 8.6 | 10.3 |
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
- 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.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, closest first.
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State Park
Natural Arch
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LighthouseFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint?
How far is Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint from Depoe Bay?
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.