Lookout Point is a scenic viewpoint in Maricopa County, Arizona at about 934 m (3,064 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 16.0 km (9.9 mi) W of Tonto Basin.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lookout 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 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:30 AM | 90° E | 6:38 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:16 AM | 61° ENE | 7:41 PM | 299° WNW | 80° | 14h 24m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:15 AM | 89° E | 6:24 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:28 AM | 118° ESE | 5:22 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 54m |
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 | 7:04 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 09m |
| February | 6:46 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:36 PM | 10h 59m |
| March | 6:12 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:34 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:30 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:23 PM | 13h 02m |
| May | 4:58 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:48 PM | 13h 55m |
| June | 4:46 AM | 5:15 AM | 5:52 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:08 PM | 14h 23m |
| July | 4:58 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:07 PM | 14h 11m |
| August | 5:22 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:40 PM | 13h 25m |
| September | 5:45 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:34 PM | 6:59 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:06 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:18 PM | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 25m |
| December | 6:57 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 55m |
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 Lookout 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:05 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:07 AM – 5:07 AM | 2.0 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:15 AM – 4:25 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 11:17 PM – 3:47 AM | 4.5 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:23 PM – 3:23 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:19 PM – 1:59 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:45 PM – 11:55 PM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 7:58 PM – 9:58 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:16 PM – 7:56 PM | 0.7 | 17° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.99 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 (49%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 81 | 82 | 93 | 98 | 107 | 114 | 112 | 110 | 109 | 101 | 91 | 79 |
| Low °F | 16 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 39 | 53 | 65 | 64 | 50 | 33 | 23 | 18 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Lookout Point, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
National ForestScenic Viewpoint
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Riverside Campground (Az)16.8 km (10.4 mi) · reservable
- Cholla Campground27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Mesquite (Az)27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Horseshoe (Az)28 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lookout Point?
What time is golden hour at Lookout Point?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lookout Point?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lookout Point?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lookout Point?
How far is Lookout Point from Tonto Basin?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.