Located in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Commissary & Frisco Overlook is a scenic viewpoint. It lies in or next to Fort Smith National Historic Site, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 2.9 km (1.8 mi) W of Fort Smith.
From the National Park Service
These two buildings, visible from the overlook, represent changes in the transportation of goods, supplies, and people. Commissary Building Fort Smith was instrumental in shipping supplies further west using wagons. Each wagon could carry up to 2000 pounds, needing six mules for each. In the late 1860s, the expansion of the railroads meant shipping supplies became more efficient and less expensive. Frisco Train Depot Built in 1903, the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Fort Smith Depot (Frisco Train Depot) was an imposing Missouri ashlar limestone structure with a two-story colonnade in front. The ten ornate columns, standard of the Classical Revival style, gave way to a grand entrance. The side entrance was for an excluded class of society - a group of people labeled “colored.” Fort Smith was no different from the rest of the South where segregation was legislated between blacks and whites in public places. The Frisco Train Depot remained in operation through the early 1950s.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Commissary & Frisco 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:22 AM | 90° E | 7:30 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:04 AM | 60° ENE | 8:37 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 33m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:06 AM | 89° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:24 AM | 119° ESE | 5:10 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 46m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 02m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:26 PM | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:04 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:51 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:17 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:33 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 32m |
| July | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 19m |
| August | 6:11 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:44 PM | 7:09 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:13 PM | 5:40 PM | 10h 19m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 47m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Commissary & Frisco Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:11 AM – 6:01 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:11 AM – 5:11 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:16 AM – 4:26 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:24 PM – 4:14 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:19 PM – 2:49 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:42 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:53 PM – 10:43 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:39 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.5 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 75 | 81 | 86 | 94 | 97 | 107 | 109 | 116 | 106 | 93 | 84 | 78 |
| Low °F | 1 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 51 | 58 | 53 | 43 | 28 | 17 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.6 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Commissary & Frisco Overlook, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
National ForestCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Commissary & Frisco Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Commissary & Frisco Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Commissary & Frisco Overlook?
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Do you need a permit to photograph at Commissary & Frisco Overlook?
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Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.