Donnell Vista Point — a scenic viewpoint in Tuolumne County, California at about 1,920 m (6,299 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Arnold, about 38 km (24 mi) away (Donnell Vista Point lies ENE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Donnell Vista Point 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 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:04 AM | 90° E | 7:12 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:37 AM | 59° ENE | 8:27 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 50m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:48 AM | 89° E | 6:58 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 120° ESE | 4:43 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 29m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:32 PM | 9h 47m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:06 PM | 10h 47m |
| March | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:34 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:04 PM | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 15m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 49m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 35m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:16 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:36 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:43 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:50 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:14 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:17 PM | 10h 06m |
| December | 6:41 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 31m |
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 Donnell Vista Point, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:58 AM – 5:18 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:05 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:10 AM – 4:40 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:10 AM – 4:00 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:22 PM – 3:32 AM | 5.2 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:15 PM – 2:15 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:33 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:39 PM – 10:09 PM | 1.5 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:51 PM – 8:11 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.58 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 20% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (60%). 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 | 61 | 66 | 71 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 98 | 93 | 92 | 83 | 71 | 62 |
| Low °F | -3 | -6 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 22 | 37 | 34 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 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
- 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.
- Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
- 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 Donnell Vista Point, closest first.
National Forest
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Natural Arch
Wilderness AreaScenic Viewpoint
Wilderness Area
Mountain Pass
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Niagara Creek Campground2.0 km (1.3 mi)
- Niagara Ohv Campground4.5 km (2.8 mi)
- Mill Creek Campground4.6 km (2.9 mi)
- Fence Creek Campground5.5 km (3.4 mi)
- Brightman Flat Campground6.8 km (4.2 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Donnell Vista Point?
What time is golden hour at Donnell Vista Point?
Where does the sun rise and set at Donnell Vista Point?
Can you see the Milky Way from Donnell Vista Point?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Donnell Vista Point?
How far is Donnell Vista Point from Arnold?
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.