Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View is a scenic viewpoint in San Diego County, California. It lies in or next to Cabrillo National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Coronado, about 6.1 km (3.8 mi) away (Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View lies WSW of town).
From the National Park Service
This accessible location offers views of many of our parks’ attractions such as the Rocky Intertidal Zone, the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and many of the local birds flying overhead. This is a great spot to take in the view of our incredible resources. Visitors are invited to sit and take advantage of the seating opportunity before the paved portion of the trail ends. If you are visiting the park during the winter months (or December-March), you may be lucky enough to spot the Gray whale migration. Whales can be identified by their waterspouts that spray above the ocean surface. These Pacific Gray Whales are on their journey from Alaska to the sheltered lagoons of Baja California to mate and give birth to the newest generation. On the hillside up above, you can see an overlook. This area can be identified by the large, shade coverings. It is the best location for spotting whales during their migration! Did You Know? Whales migrate from the seas near Alaska to Baja California, Mexico each year to mate and give birth! Adult whales grow to 40-50ft or 12-16m in length and can weigh 30-40 tons.
Learn more https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/whales-on-the-horizon.htm https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/gentle-and-strong-the-pacific-gray-whale.htm https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/the-whale-diaries.htm
Access Wheelchair accessible.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:53 AM | 90° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:42 AM | 61° ENE | 8:01 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 18m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:48 AM | 118° ESE | 4:48 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 00m |
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 | 6:25 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:33 PM | 10h 14m |
| February | 6:08 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:00 PM | 11h 02m |
| March | 6:36 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:55 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:08 PM | 13h 50m |
| June | 5:13 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:28 PM | 14h 17m |
| July | 5:25 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:26 PM | 14h 06m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:21 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:29 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:17 PM | 6:42 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 5:54 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:55 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:15 PM | 10h 29m |
| December | 6:17 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:13 PM | 10h 01m |
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 Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° 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 | 4:18 AM – 5:08 AM | 0.8 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:29 AM – 5:29 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:25 AM – 4:45 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:26 PM – 4:06 AM | 4.7 | 28° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:41 PM – 3:51 AM | 6.2 | 28° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:37 PM – 2:27 AM | 4.8 | 28° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:05 PM – 12:25 AM | 3.3 | 28° | S → SW |
| September | 8:20 PM – 10:30 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:39 PM – 8:29 PM | 0.8 | 17° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 18.73 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (81%). September is the warmest month and February 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 | 74 | 77 | 81 | 78 | 81 | 78 | 83 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 82 | 73 |
| Low °F | 48 | 48 | 51 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 57 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 51 | 51 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
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 Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Scenic Viewpoint
Lighthouse
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View?
What time is golden hour at Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View?
Where does the sun rise and set at Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View?
Can you see the Milky Way from Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View?
How far is Coastal Trail Southern Clearing View from Coronado?
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.