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36.2383° N109.3595° W2,071 mBortle 1Denver

Massacre Cave Overlook Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Apache County, Arizona · 2,071 m (6,795 ft)

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–300°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Massacre Cave Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Apache County, Arizona at about 2,071 m (6,795 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 14.8 km (9.2 mi) WSW of Tsaile.

Elevation
2,071 m
6,795 ft
Nearest town
Tsaile
14.8 km (9.2 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
June
30% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:08 PM
sunset 6:43 PM

Light at Massacre Cave Overlook

Live
Sunrise
7:30 AM
Sunset
6:36 PM
Golden hour AM
7:14 AM – 8:05 AM
Golden hour PM
6:01 PM – 6:52 PM
Blue hour AM
7:03 AM – 7:14 AM
Blue hour PM
6:52 PM – 7:02 PM
Full darkness
8:02 PM – 6:05 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:42 PM / 1:45 AM
Day length
11h 07m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. 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 Massacre Cave Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:22 AM90° E7:30 PM271° W54°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:01 AM60° ENE8:39 PM300° WNW77°14h 38m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:06 AM89° E7:16 PM271° W54°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:26 AM119° ESE5:07 PM241° WSW30°9h 41m

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
January7:01 AM7:29 AM8:07 AM4:48 PM5:26 PM5:54 PM9h 58m
February6:40 AM7:06 AM7:42 AM5:23 PM5:59 PM6:25 PM10h 53m
March7:04 AM7:29 AM8:03 AM6:51 PM7:25 PM7:51 PM11h 56m
April6:18 AM6:45 AM7:19 AM7:17 PM7:51 PM8:18 PM13h 07m
May5:43 AM6:12 AM6:48 AM7:41 PM8:17 PM8:46 PM14h 05m
June5:30 AM6:00 AM6:39 AM7:59 PM8:37 PM9:08 PM14h 37m
July5:43 AM6:12 AM6:50 AM7:58 PM8:36 PM9:05 PM14h 24m
August6:09 AM6:36 AM7:12 AM7:34 PM8:09 PM8:37 PM13h 33m
September6:35 AM7:01 AM7:35 AM6:53 PM7:26 PM7:52 PM12h 26m
October6:59 AM7:25 AM8:00 AM6:08 PM6:43 PM7:09 PM11h 18m
November6:28 AM6:55 AM7:33 AM4:33 PM5:11 PM5:38 PM10h 15m
December6:54 AM7:22 AM8:02 AM4:25 PM5:05 PM5:33 PM9h 42m

Local time (America/Denver), 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 Massacre Cave Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:05 AM – 5:35 AM0.514°SE → SE
March4:20 AM – 6:00 AM1.722°SE → SSE
April2:12 AM – 5:02 AM2.825°SE → S
May12:18 AM – 4:28 AM4.225°SE → SSW
June10:27 PM – 4:07 AM5.725°SE → SW
July10:21 PM – 2:41 AM4.325°SSE → SW
August9:44 PM – 12:34 AM2.825°S → SW
September8:53 PM – 10:33 PM1.722°SSW → SW
October8:08 PM – 8:38 PM0.515°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-19°—

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 ≈ 21.91 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F606677849710210210096867565
Low °F-2-51319223551503012113
Precip. (in)1.01.00.60.50.50.21.31.21.20.80.71.0

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

  • Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
  • 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.
  • 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 Massacre Cave Overlook, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Mummy Cave Overlook1.2 km away · Apache County · 1,842 m
Waterfall
Big Flow3.3 km away · Apache County · 2,105 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Antelope House Overlook11 km away · Apache County · 1,953 m
Natural Arch
The Window15 km away · Apache County
Scenic Viewpoint
Spider Rock Overlook15 km away · Apache County · 2,079 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Face Rock Overlook15 km away · Apache County · 2,079 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Sliding House Overlook15 km away · Apache County · 1,832 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Sliding Rock Overlook15 km away · Apache County · 1,953 m
Scenic Viewpoint
White House Overlook16 km away · Apache County · 1,822 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Massacre Cave Overlook?
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 Massacre Cave Overlook?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:08 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:43 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:00 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Massacre Cave Overlook?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Massacre Cave Overlook?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Massacre Cave Overlook?
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 Massacre Cave Overlook from Tsaile?
About 14.8 km (9.2 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.