Audubon Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in San Luis Obispo County, California — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 2.4 km (1.5 mi) NNW of Los Osos.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Audubon 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) | 7:08 AM | 90° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 60° ENE | 8:22 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 33m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:52 AM | 89° E | 7:02 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:09 AM | 119° ESE | 4:55 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 | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 02m |
| February | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:46 PM | 6:12 PM | 10h 55m |
| March | 6:50 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:37 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:05 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:03 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:30 PM | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:19 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:50 PM | 14h 32m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 19m |
| August | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:22 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:37 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:55 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:25 PM | 10h 19m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 47m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 Audubon 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 6 (bright suburban sky), 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 | 4:51 AM – 5:21 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:55 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:55 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:00 AM – 4:10 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:07 PM – 3:57 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:03 PM – 2:33 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:26 PM – 12:26 AM | 3.0 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:27 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:33 PM | 0.7 | 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.33 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 18% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (48%). 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 | 78 | 84 | 95 | 98 | 105 | 106 | 105 | 109 | 100 | 89 | 78 |
| Low °F | 25 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 40 | 43 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 30 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.6 |
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
- 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.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- 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 Audubon Overlook, closest first.
State Park
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
State Park
Waterfall
State Park
Botanical Garden
Mountain Peak
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Audubon Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Audubon Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Audubon Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Audubon Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Audubon Overlook?
How far is Audubon Overlook from Los Osos?
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.