Located in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, Finger Mountain Wayside is a scenic viewpoint. It sits roughly 207 km (128 mi) NW of College.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At this latitude the sun does not rise or set on some days of the year, so check the monthly table below for daylight and twilight.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 8:02 AM | 88° E | 8:18 PM | 272° W | 24° | 12h 16m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | — | — | — | — | 47° | — |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:45 AM | 88° E | 8:06 PM | 273° W | 24° | 12h 21m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 11:49 AM | 164° SSE | 2:13 PM | 197° SSW | 0° | 2h 24m |
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
Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:40 AM | 11:01 AM | — | — | 3:23 PM | 4:44 PM | 4h 22m |
| February | 8:13 AM | 9:10 AM | 10:41 AM | 3:53 PM | 5:24 PM | 6:21 PM | 8h 14m |
| March | 7:30 AM | 8:22 AM | 9:32 AM | 6:52 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:53 PM | 11h 39m |
| April | 5:17 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:33 PM | 9:45 PM | 10:48 PM | 15h 26m |
| May | — | 4:18 AM | 5:57 AM | 10:01 PM | 11:40 PM | — | 19h 22m |
| June | — | — | 5:05 AM | 11:01 PM | — | — | — |
| July | — | 3:29 AM | 5:35 AM | 10:41 PM | 12:47 AM | — | 21h 18m |
| August | 4:20 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:57 AM | 9:17 PM | 10:36 PM | 11:54 PM | 16h 58m |
| September | 6:29 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:31 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:27 PM | 13h 10m |
| October | 8:07 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:18 AM | 5:18 PM | 6:36 PM | 7:29 PM | 9h 36m |
| November | 8:45 AM | 9:54 AM | — | — | 3:40 PM | 4:50 PM | 5h 46m |
| December | 9:55 AM | 11:40 AM | — | — | 2:15 PM | 4:01 PM | 2h 35m |
Local time (America/Anchorage), 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
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -14° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -11° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -12° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -11° | — |
| May | No darkness | — | — | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | No darkness | — | — | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -15° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -13° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -15° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -22° | — |
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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.95 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 0.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and October as the cloudiest (77%). July is the warmest month and January 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 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 49 | 75 | 78 | 80 | 76 | 63 | 52 | 32 | 32 |
| Low °F | -49 | -44 | -40 | -24 | -2 | 24 | 32 | 24 | 8 | -18 | -34 | -44 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
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 scenic viewpoint
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, Graduated ND filter, Headlamp. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Finger Mountain Wayside, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Finger Mountain Wayside?
What time is golden hour at Finger Mountain Wayside?
Where does the sun rise and set at Finger Mountain Wayside?
Can you see the Milky Way from Finger Mountain Wayside?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Finger Mountain Wayside?
How far is Finger Mountain Wayside from College?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.