Bunchgrass Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Siskiyou County, California. It lies in or next to Lava Beds National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 57 km (35 mi) SSE of Altamont.
From the National Park Service
The juniper and sagebrush that can be seen (and smelled) are a part of a juniper woodland community, one of three plant communities found at Lava Beds. The northern third of the monument is dominated by bunchgrass, sagebrush, and rabbitbrush, while the higher elevations to the south harbor ponderosa pine forest. Immerse yourself in all three to discover the subtle and not so subtle differences. Lava Beds National Monument is a refuge for a variety of species that live together in few other places on earth. Visit in the parching heat of summer or the blustery cold of winter and you may wonder how any animal could survive in this rugged volcanic terrain. But with patience and luck, it is possible to spot a wide variety of animals that do not merely subsist here, but make a comfortable home in this land of extremes. These animals are specially suited to the unique range of habitats here, and they depend on this protected environment for their survival.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bunchgrass Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:10 AM | 90° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:32 AM | 57° ENE | 8:45 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 13m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:31 AM | 122° ESE | 4:39 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 09m |
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 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:18 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:31 PM | 9h 29m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:13 PM | 7:41 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:58 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:15 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 32m |
| June | 4:58 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:43 PM | 9:17 PM | 15h 11m |
| July | 5:12 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:13 PM | 14h 55m |
| August | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:19 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:45 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:54 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:17 PM | 9h 51m |
| December | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:12 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:37 PM | 5:09 PM | 9h 10m |
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 Bunchgrass Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:36 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:37 AM – 4:37 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:35 AM – 3:45 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 10:54 PM – 3:14 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:44 PM – 1:54 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:53 PM – 11:53 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:52 PM – 9:52 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.91 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 18% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (66%). 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 | 63 | 63 | 72 | 80 | 89 | 98 | 103 | 100 | 98 | 90 | 76 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | -2 | 9 | 10 | 22 | 29 | 39 | 39 | 29 | 19 | 0 | -4 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 5.0 |
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.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- 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 Bunchgrass Overlook, closest first.
Cave
Natural ArchNatural Arch
CaveNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Indian Well Campground1.8 km (1.1 mi)
- Medicine Lake Recreation Area15.8 km (9.8 mi) · reservable
- Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout19.3 km (12.0 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bunchgrass Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Bunchgrass Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bunchgrass Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bunchgrass Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bunchgrass Overlook?
How far is Bunchgrass Overlook from Altamont?
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.