Scenic Point — a scenic viewpoint in Copper River Census Area, Alaska — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 200 km (125 mi) ENE of Palmer.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Scenic Point the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 29° (NNE) at the June solstice and 146° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 331° (NNW) in June to 215° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 51° in summer but only 4° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:43 AM | 89° E | 7:57 PM | 272° W | 28° | 12h 13m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 3:51 AM | 29° NNE | 11:38 PM | 331° NNW | 51° | 19h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:26 AM | 88° E | 7:44 PM | 272° W | 28° | 12h 18m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 10:07 AM | 146° SE | 3:14 PM | 215° SW | 4° | 5h 07m |
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 | 8:49 AM | 9:48 AM | 11:52 AM | 1:51 PM | 3:56 PM | 4:55 PM | 6h 08m |
| February | 7:41 AM | 8:28 AM | 9:39 AM | 4:15 PM | 5:25 PM | 6:12 PM | 8h 57m |
| March | 7:16 AM | 8:00 AM | 8:59 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:27 PM | 11h 43m |
| April | 5:28 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:06 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:57 PM | 14h 48m |
| May | 3:31 AM | 4:48 AM | 6:02 AM | 9:16 PM | 10:30 PM | 11:47 PM | 17h 43m |
| June | — | 3:51 AM | 5:24 AM | 10:02 PM | 11:35 PM | — | 19h 43m |
| July | 2:31 AM | 4:25 AM | 5:48 AM | 9:49 PM | 11:12 PM | 1:06 AM | 18h 47m |
| August | 4:50 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:43 PM | 9:48 PM | 10:45 PM | 16h 01m |
| September | 6:23 AM | 7:08 AM | 8:07 AM | 7:09 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:53 PM | 12h 59m |
| October | 7:42 AM | 8:27 AM | 9:31 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:29 PM | 7:14 PM | 10h 02m |
| November | 8:01 AM | 8:55 AM | 10:28 AM | 2:26 PM | 4:00 PM | 4:54 PM | 7h 05m |
| December | 8:56 AM | 10:02 AM | — | — | 3:13 PM | 4:19 PM | 5h 11m |
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 | — | -13° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -6° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| May | No darkness | — | — | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -6° | — |
| 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.
Photography tips for this scenic viewpoint
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Scenic Point, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Scenic Point?
What time is golden hour at Scenic Point?
Where does the sun rise and set at Scenic Point?
Can you see the Milky Way from Scenic Point?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Scenic Point?
How far is Scenic Point from Palmer?
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.