Sevenmile Lake Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Copper River Census Area, Alaska. It sits roughly 211 km (131 mi) SSE of Badger.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Sevenmile Lake Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 25° (NNE) at the June solstice and 148° (SSE) in late December. Sunset moves from 335° (NNW) in June to 212° (SSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 50° in summer but only 3° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:44 AM | 89° E | 7:58 PM | 272° W | 27° | 12h 14m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 3:34 AM | 25° NNE | 11:56 PM | 335° NNW | 50° | 20h 22m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:27 AM | 88° E | 7:45 PM | 272° W | 27° | 12h 18m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 10:21 AM | 148° SSE | 3:01 PM | 212° SSW | 3° | 4h 40m |
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 | 8:56 AM | 9:58 AM | — | — | 3:47 PM | 4:49 PM | 5h 48m |
| February | 7:45 AM | 8:34 AM | 9:48 AM | 4:07 PM | 5:22 PM | 6:11 PM | 8h 48m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 8:01 AM | 9:02 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:29 PM | 11h 43m |
| April | 5:22 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:08 PM | 9:11 PM | 10:04 PM | 14h 56m |
| May | 3:12 AM | 4:39 AM | 5:58 AM | 9:22 PM | 10:41 PM | 12:07 AM | 18h 02m |
| June | — | 3:35 AM | 5:17 AM | 10:11 PM | 11:53 PM | — | 20h 17m |
| July | — | 4:13 AM | 5:42 AM | 9:56 PM | 11:25 PM | — | 19h 13m |
| August | 4:41 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:49 AM | 8:46 PM | 9:54 PM | 10:55 PM | 16h 12m |
| September | 6:21 AM | 7:08 AM | 8:09 AM | 7:09 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:56 PM | 13h 01m |
| October | 7:44 AM | 8:31 AM | 9:37 AM | 5:20 PM | 6:27 PM | 7:14 PM | 9h 57m |
| November | 8:07 AM | 9:03 AM | 10:47 AM | 2:09 PM | 3:53 PM | 4:49 PM | 6h 49m |
| December | 9:05 AM | 10:16 AM | — | — | 3:01 PM | 4:12 PM | 4h 45m |
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 | — | -8° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -7° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| May | No darkness | — | — | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -13° | — |
| 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 54% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (82%). 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 | 31 | 31 | 35 | 44 | 60 | 69 | 67 | 68 | 55 | 46 | 33 | 31 |
| Low °F | -43 | -42 | -44 | -15 | 1 | 20 | 32 | 21 | 2 | -17 | -35 | -39 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
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 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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Sevenmile Lake Overlook, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Tangle Lakes Campground19.4 km (12.0 mi) · reservable
- Paxson Lake Campground24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Paxson Lake Campground24 km (15 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sevenmile Lake Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Sevenmile Lake Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Sevenmile Lake Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Sevenmile Lake Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sevenmile Lake Overlook?
How far is Sevenmile Lake Overlook from Badger?
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.