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39.2782° N122.9336° W1,058 mBortle 3Los Angeles

Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Lake County, California · 1,058 m (3,471 ft)

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

Located in Lake County, California, Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint at about 1,058 m (3,471 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Upper Lake, about 12.8 km (8.0 mi) away (Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint lies N of town).

Elevation
1,058 m
3,471 ft
Nearest town
Upper Lake
12.8 km (8.0 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
July
10% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:58 PM
sunset 6:34 PM

Light at Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint

Live
Sunrise
7:27 AM
Sunset
6:27 PM
Golden hour AM
7:11 AM – 8:04 AM
Golden hour PM
5:50 PM – 6:44 PM
Blue hour AM
7:00 AM – 7:11 AM
Blue hour PM
6:44 PM – 6:54 PM
Full darkness
7:56 PM – 5:59 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:42 PM / 1:36 AM
Day length
11h 00m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Los Angeles. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:16 AM90° E7:24 PM271° W51°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:46 AM58° ENE8:42 PM302° WNW74°14h 56m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:00 AM89° E7:10 PM271° W51°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:29 AM120° ESE4:53 PM240° WSW27°9h 24m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:01 AM7:30 AM8:11 AM4:32 PM5:13 PM5:42 PM9h 43m
February6:37 AM7:04 AM7:42 AM5:12 PM5:49 PM6:17 PM10h 45m
March6:57 AM7:24 AM7:59 AM6:44 PM7:19 PM7:46 PM11h 55m
April6:08 AM6:35 AM7:11 AM7:13 PM7:49 PM8:17 PM13h 14m
May5:29 AM5:59 AM6:37 AM7:41 PM8:19 PM8:49 PM14h 20m
June5:13 AM5:45 AM6:26 AM8:00 PM8:41 PM9:13 PM14h 55m
July5:27 AM5:58 AM6:38 AM7:59 PM8:38 PM9:10 PM14h 40m
August5:57 AM6:26 AM7:02 AM7:32 PM8:09 PM8:37 PM13h 43m
September6:27 AM6:54 AM7:29 AM6:47 PM7:22 PM7:49 PM12h 28m
October6:55 AM7:22 AM7:58 AM5:58 PM6:34 PM7:01 PM11h 12m
November6:28 AM6:56 AM7:36 AM4:19 PM4:58 PM5:27 PM10h 02m
December6:55 AM7:25 AM8:07 AM4:08 PM4:50 PM5:20 PM9h 25m

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 Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:19 AM – 5:29 AM0.212°SE → SE
March4:29 AM – 5:49 AM1.318°SE → SSE
April2:25 AM – 4:55 AM2.522°SE → S
May12:27 AM – 4:07 AM3.722°SE → S
June10:41 PM – 3:41 AM5.022°SE → SSW
July10:33 PM – 2:13 AM3.722°SSE → SW
August9:49 PM – 12:19 AM2.521°S → SW
September8:53 PM – 10:13 PM1.318°SSW → SW
October8:04 PM – 8:14 PM0.212°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.54 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 10% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (58%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F727279901031111161131101028872
Low °F242527293540525142352421
Precip. (in)4.85.33.92.01.20.40.00.10.21.43.26.6

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.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

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 Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint, closest first.

Crabtree Hot Springs, CaliforniaHot Spring
Crabtree Hot Springs, California9.7 km away · Lake County
Snow Mountain WildernessWilderness Area
Snow Mountain Wilderness24 km away · Colusa County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint?
July has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
What time is golden hour at Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:58 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:34 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:58 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 240°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Elk Mountain Scenic Viewpoint from Upper Lake?
About 12.8 km (8.0 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.