Located in Copper River Census Area, Alaska, Glacier View 2025 is a scenic viewpoint. It lies in or next to Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, so park hours, fees and rules apply.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Glacier View 2025 the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 31° (NNE) at the June solstice and 144° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 330° (NNW) in June to 216° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 52° in summer but only 5° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:33 AM | 89° E | 7:46 PM | 272° W | 28° | 12h 13m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 3:49 AM | 31° NNE | 11:19 PM | 330° NNW | 52° | 19h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 88° E | 7:34 PM | 272° W | 29° | 12h 17m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 9:50 AM | 144° SE | 3:11 PM | 216° SW | 5° | 5h 20m |
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 | 8:35 AM | 9:32 AM | 11:25 AM | 1:58 PM | 3:51 PM | 4:48 PM | 6h 19m |
| February | 7:30 AM | 8:16 AM | 9:25 AM | 4:09 PM | 5:17 PM | 6:04 PM | 9h 01m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:49 AM | 8:48 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:17 PM | 11h 44m |
| April | 5:21 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:54 PM | 9:44 PM | 14h 44m |
| May | 3:30 AM | 4:42 AM | 5:55 AM | 9:03 PM | 10:15 PM | 11:28 PM | 17h 33m |
| June | — | 3:50 AM | 5:18 AM | 9:48 PM | 11:16 PM | — | 19h 27m |
| July | 2:43 AM | 4:21 AM | 5:41 AM | 9:36 PM | 10:55 PM | 12:34 AM | 18h 34m |
| August | 4:44 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:31 PM | 9:34 PM | 10:30 PM | 15h 55m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:41 PM | 12h 57m |
| October | 7:31 AM | 8:15 AM | 9:18 AM | 5:18 PM | 6:21 PM | 7:05 PM | 10h 05m |
| November | 7:48 AM | 8:41 AM | 10:10 AM | 2:25 PM | 3:54 PM | 4:46 PM | 7h 13m |
| December | 8:42 AM | 9:45 AM | — | — | 3:10 PM | 4:13 PM | 5h 25m |
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 | — | -12° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -7° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| May | No darkness | — | — | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -12° | — |
| 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 59% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (80%). 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 | 36 | 33 | 42 | 52 | 56 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 56 | 48 | 34 | 31 |
| Low °F | -39 | -37 | -38 | -20 | 7 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 9 | -15 | -28 | -33 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Glacier View 2025, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Glacier View 2025?
What time is golden hour at Glacier View 2025?
Where does the sun rise and set at Glacier View 2025?
Can you see the Milky Way from Glacier View 2025?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Glacier View 2025?
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.