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33.7274° N111.8664° WBortle 5Phoenix

Owl's Rest Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Maricopa County, Arizona

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–299°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Owl's Rest is a scenic viewpoint in Maricopa County, Arizona. The nearest town is Carefree, about 11.6 km (7.2 mi) away (Owl's Rest lies SSE of town).

Nearest town
Carefree
11.6 km (7.2 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
June
18% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:21 PM
sunset 5:55 PM

Light at Owl's Rest

Live
Sunrise
6:37 AM
Sunset
5:49 PM
Golden hour AM
6:21 AM – 7:11 AM
Golden hour PM
5:15 PM – 6:04 PM
Blue hour AM
6:12 AM – 6:21 AM
Blue hour PM
6:04 PM – 6:14 PM
Full darkness
7:12 PM – 5:14 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
2:48 PM / 1:01 AM
Day length
11h 12m
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 Owl's Rest 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.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:32 AM90° E6:39 PM271° W56°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:18 AM61° ENE7:42 PM299° WNW80°14h 24m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:16 AM89° E6:26 PM271° W57°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:29 AM118° ESE5:24 PM242° WSW33°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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:06 AM7:33 AM8:10 AM5:05 PM5:42 PM6:09 PM10h 09m
February6:47 AM7:13 AM7:47 AM5:38 PM6:12 PM6:38 PM11h 00m
March6:14 AM6:39 AM7:12 AM6:03 PM6:36 PM7:01 PM11h 57m
April5:32 AM5:57 AM6:31 AM6:25 PM6:59 PM7:24 PM13h 01m
May5:00 AM5:27 AM6:03 AM6:47 PM7:22 PM7:49 PM13h 54m
June4:48 AM5:17 AM5:54 AM7:04 PM7:40 PM8:09 PM14h 23m
July5:00 AM5:29 AM6:05 AM7:03 PM7:39 PM8:08 PM14h 11m
August5:24 AM5:50 AM6:24 AM6:41 PM7:15 PM7:42 PM13h 25m
September5:47 AM6:12 AM6:45 AM6:03 PM6:36 PM7:01 PM12h 24m
October6:08 AM6:33 AM7:07 AM5:21 PM5:55 PM6:20 PM11h 22m
November6:34 AM7:00 AM7:36 AM4:50 PM5:26 PM5:52 PM10h 25m
December6:58 AM7:26 AM8:04 AM4:43 PM5:21 PM5:49 PM9h 56m

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 Owl's Rest, 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 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:06 AM – 5:46 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:08 AM – 5:08 AM2.024°SE → SSE
April1:16 AM – 4:26 AM3.227°SE → S
May11:18 PM – 3:48 AM4.527°SE → SSW
June9:24 PM – 3:24 AM6.027°SE → SW
July9:20 PM – 2:00 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August8:46 PM – 11:56 PM3.227°S → SW
September7:59 PM – 9:59 PM2.024°SSW → SW
October7:17 PM – 7:57 PM0.717°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.86 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F818293981071141121101091019179
Low °F161925313953656450332318
Precip. (in)1.61.61.00.50.20.11.81.71.10.70.81.6

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

  • 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.
  • Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
  • 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 Owl's Rest, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
High Point(2889')0.2 km away · Maricopa County
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Grandview0.3 km away · Maricopa County
Pinnacle PeakMountain Peak
Pinnacle Peak0.4 km away · Maricopa County · 905 m
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Sidewinder Overlook3.0 km away · Maricopa County
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Sunset Vista4.1 km away · Maricopa County
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Basalt Ridge Overlook6.3 km away · Maricopa County
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The Amphitheater6.9 km away · Maricopa County
Scenic Viewpoint
Harris's Hawk Vista7.2 km away · Maricopa County
Scenic Viewpoint
Raven Roost Scenic View7.3 km away · Maricopa County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Owl's Rest?
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 Owl's Rest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:21 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:55 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:07 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Owl's Rest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Owl's Rest?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Owl's Rest?
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 Owl's Rest from Carefree?
About 11.6 km (7.2 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.