Brokeoff Volcano Vista — a scenic viewpoint in Shasta County, California — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Lassen Volcanic National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 30 km (19 mi) NW of Chester.
From the National Park Service
This small parking area is perched above Little Hot Springs Valley in the shadow of Lassen Peak. Parking is limited and fills quickly in the summer due to the popularity of the Bumpass Hell Trail. The trailhead is located at the northeast end of the parking area, near the entrance/exit. A scenic vista and vault toilets are located at the southwest end of the parking area. Water is not available at this location. This is one of the few areas of the park with cell service. Brokeoff Volcano Vista Drive to the far side of the parking area to reach the scenic vista. It is usually possible to pull to the side and hop out for a quick look, even when the parking area is full. A handful of waysides provide information about the eroded Brokeoff Volcano and its remnants visible today. Just below the waysides, a small rock terrace holds a lone bolder known as the glacial erratic. Lassen Peak is also clearly visible behind you. Stargazing This high-elevation parking area is one of the best locations in the park for stargazing. It is cold and often windy year-round in this exposed spot, so be sure to bring warm clothes and even blankets to enjoy the stars. There is plenty to see with your naked eye or a pair of binoculars. The Milky Way glows brightly on clear nights and often passes above Lassen Peak. Telescopes are welcome as well and can be enjoyed by all during the annual Lassen Dark Sky Festival . Learn more about stargazing in the park . Overnight parking or camping is not permitted, so plan to drive back to your campsite or lodging after stargazing.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Brokeoff Volcano Vista the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:10 AM | 90° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:37 AM | 58° ENE | 8:41 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:27 AM | 121° ESE | 4:43 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 17m |
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 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:34 PM | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:10 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 6:51 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:13 PM | 7:40 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:00 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:13 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:19 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 26m |
| June | 5:03 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:12 PM | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:17 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 47m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:50 PM | 6:27 PM | 6:55 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 57m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:12 PM | 9h 18m |
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 Brokeoff Volcano Vista, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° 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 | 5:23 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:34 AM – 5:44 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:33 AM – 4:43 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:28 AM – 3:48 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:44 PM – 3:24 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:35 PM – 2:05 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:48 PM – 11:58 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 9:59 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:58 PM – 7:58 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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: 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 ≈ 21.82 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 14% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (62%). 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 | 59 | 64 | 65 | 74 | 88 | 94 | 102 | 99 | 96 | 87 | 74 | 58 |
| Low °F | -1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 27 | 38 | 35 | 26 | 21 | -2 | -3 |
| Precip. (in) | 5.0 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 7.1 |
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.
- 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 Brokeoff Volcano Vista, closest first.
Lake
Hot Spring
Hot Spring
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Hot Spring
Waterfall
Volcano
VolcanoCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Southwest Campground - Winter/Spring3.6 km (2.2 mi)
- Summit Lake South8.2 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins (Ca)8.2 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Manzanita Lake Group Campground8.2 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Manzanita Lake8.2 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Brokeoff Volcano Vista?
What time is golden hour at Brokeoff Volcano Vista?
Where does the sun rise and set at Brokeoff Volcano Vista?
Can you see the Milky Way from Brokeoff Volcano Vista?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Brokeoff Volcano Vista?
How far is Brokeoff Volcano Vista from Chester?
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.