Overlook Ridge — a scenic viewpoint in Cochise County, Arizona at about 1,564 m (5,131 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Fort Bowie National Historic Site, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 39 km (24 mi) ESE of Willcox.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Overlook Ridge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:22 AM | 90° E | 6:30 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:13 AM | 62° ENE | 7:28 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 15m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:07 AM | 89° E | 6:16 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:15 AM | 118° ESE | 5:18 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 02m |
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 | 6:53 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:02 PM | 10h 16m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:30 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:04 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:51 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:24 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:13 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 4:54 AM | 5:21 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:36 PM | 13h 48m |
| June | 4:43 AM | 5:12 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:55 PM | 14h 15m |
| July | 4:55 AM | 5:23 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:54 PM | 14h 03m |
| August | 5:17 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:29 PM | 13h 20m |
| September | 5:38 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:35 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:50 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 5:57 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:55 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:46 PM | 6:11 PM | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:22 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:45 PM | 10h 31m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 03m |
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 Overlook Ridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:58 AM – 4:58 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:53 AM – 4:13 AM | 3.3 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 10:53 PM – 3:43 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:08 PM – 3:28 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:04 PM – 2:04 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:32 PM – 12:02 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 7:48 PM – 9:58 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:08 PM – 7:58 PM | 0.8 | 18° | 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.88 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). 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 | 74 | 82 | 87 | 96 | 106 | 109 | 111 | 106 | 103 | 96 | 85 | 76 |
| Low °F | 17 | 11 | 21 | 29 | 35 | 48 | 62 | 61 | 46 | 28 | 20 | 19 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
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
- 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.
- Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Overlook Ridge, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Mountain Pass
Waterfall
Natural ArchScenic Viewpoint
CanyonScenic Viewpoint
Dark Sky Place
Fire LookoutCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Overlook Ridge?
What time is golden hour at Overlook Ridge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Overlook Ridge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Overlook Ridge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Overlook Ridge?
How far is Overlook Ridge from Willcox?
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.