1. Home
  2. Scenic Viewpoints
  3. Arizona
  4. Gila County
  5. Hi View Point
34.4367° N111.2940° WBortle 3Phoenix

Hi View Point Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Gila County, Arizona

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Hi View Point — a scenic viewpoint in Gila County, Arizona — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 15.9 km (9.9 mi) ENE of Pine.

Nearest town
Pine
15.9 km (9.9 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
June
18% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:18 PM
sunset 5:52 PM

Light at Hi View Point

Live
Sunrise
6:35 AM
Sunset
5:46 PM
Golden hour AM
6:20 AM – 7:10 AM
Golden hour PM
5:12 PM – 6:01 PM
Blue hour AM
6:10 AM – 6:20 AM
Blue hour PM
6:01 PM – 6:11 PM
Full darkness
7:10 PM – 5:12 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
2:47 PM / 12:57 AM
Day length
11h 10m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Phoenix. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Hi View Point the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:30 AM90° E6:37 PM271° W55°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:14 AM61° ENE7:42 PM300° WNW79°14h 28m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:14 AM89° E6:23 PM271° W56°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:29 AM118° ESE5:19 PM242° WSW32°9h 51m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:05 AM7:32 AM8:10 AM5:01 PM5:38 PM6:06 PM10h 06m
February6:46 AM7:11 AM7:46 AM5:34 PM6:09 PM6:35 PM10h 58m
March6:12 AM6:37 AM7:10 AM6:00 PM6:33 PM6:58 PM11h 57m
April5:28 AM5:54 AM6:28 AM6:23 PM6:57 PM7:23 PM13h 03m
May4:56 AM5:24 AM5:59 AM6:46 PM7:21 PM7:49 PM13h 57m
June4:44 AM5:13 AM5:50 AM7:03 PM7:40 PM8:09 PM14h 27m
July4:56 AM5:25 AM6:01 AM7:02 PM7:39 PM8:08 PM14h 14m
August5:20 AM5:47 AM6:21 AM6:40 PM7:14 PM7:41 PM13h 27m
September5:44 AM6:09 AM6:42 AM6:00 PM6:33 PM6:59 PM12h 24m
October6:06 AM6:31 AM7:05 AM5:18 PM5:52 PM6:17 PM11h 21m
November6:33 AM6:59 AM7:36 AM4:45 PM5:22 PM5:49 PM10h 23m
December6:57 AM7:25 AM8:04 AM4:39 PM5:17 PM5:45 PM9h 52m

Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Hi View Point, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:03 AM – 5:43 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:17 AM – 5:07 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April1:15 AM – 4:15 AM3.026°SE → S
May11:19 PM – 3:39 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June9:26 PM – 3:26 AM6.027°SE → SW
July9:21 PM – 2:01 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August8:46 PM – 11:56 PM3.227°S → SW
September7:58 PM – 9:48 PM1.823°SSW → SW
October7:15 PM – 7:55 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

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 ≈ 21.59 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 18% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (51%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F687079859410210210096877870
Low °F-140111526364848331913-8
Precip. (in)1.92.01.20.60.50.22.52.41.41.01.32.0

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.
  • A panorama of 3–5 vertical frames gives more resolution and a wider view without a fisheye look.
  • 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 Hi View Point, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
High View Point0.1 km away · Gila County
Moqui LookoutFire Lookout
Moqui Lookout18 km away · Coconino County
Scenic Viewpoint
Diamond Point Lookout Tower19 km away · Gila County
Tonto Natural Bridge State ParkState Park
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park20 km away · Gila County
Tonto Natural BridgeNatural Arch
Tonto Natural Bridge20 km away · Gila County
Scenic Viewpoint
O'Haco Lookout Tower20 km away · Coconino County · 2,329 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Horseshoe Vista22 km away · Gila County
Fossil Springs WildernessWilderness Area
Fossil Springs Wilderness23 km away · Gila County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Hi View Point?
June has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
What time is golden hour at Hi View Point?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:18 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:52 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:05 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Hi View Point?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Hi View Point?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hi View Point?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Hi View Point from Pine?
About 15.9 km (9.9 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.