Located in Marin County, California, Bird Island Overlook is a scenic viewpoint at about 64 m (210 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Marin City, about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) away (Bird Island Overlook lies SSW of town).
From the National Park Service
Here you can find stunning views of Bird Island, Rodeo Beach and the Point Bonita Lighthouse. As well as views, you can also explore the nearby Battery Mendell.
Limited parking is available at the Point Bonita Lighthouse parking.
The overlook is an easy 0.25 mile walk from the parking area. A larger parking lot is available at Battery Alexander, about a 0.5 mile walk.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bird Island Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:14 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 59° ENE | 8:36 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 120° ESE | 4:55 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 32m |
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 | 6:56 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 50m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 6:56 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:44 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:13 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:43 PM | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 46m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 32m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:26 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:34 PM | 7:00 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:28 PM | 10h 09m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 34m |
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 Bird Island Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:59 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:18 AM – 4:08 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:29 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:22 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:22 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:18 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| 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 ≈ 18.63 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). September 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 | 67 | 69 | 76 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 84 | 78 | 65 |
| Low °F | 36 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 47 | 39 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.4 |
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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Bird Island Overlook, closest first.
Natural Arch
BeachNatural Arch
Lighthouse
Lake
Beach
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Scenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Bicentennial Campground1.2 km (0.7 mi) · reservable
- Hawk Campground3.7 km (2.3 mi) · reservable
- Haypress Campground4.4 km (2.7 mi) · reservable
- Kirby Cove Campground4.4 km (2.7 mi) · reservable
- Rob Hill Group Campground5.8 km (3.6 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bird Island Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Bird Island Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bird Island Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bird Island Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bird Island Overlook?
How far is Bird Island Overlook from Marin City?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service, 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.