Lookout Point is a scenic viewpoint in Shasta County, California at about 964 m (3,163 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 31 km (19 mi) NNW of Shasta Lake.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lookout Point 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) | 7:14 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:39 AM | 58° ENE | 8:46 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 07m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:58 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:32 AM | 121° ESE | 4:46 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 14m |
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 | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:37 PM | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:13 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 6:55 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:44 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:03 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:18 PM | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:22 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 28m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:20 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:18 PM | 15h 06m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:32 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:14 PM | 14h 50m |
| August | 5:51 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:48 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:54 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:29 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 55m |
| December | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:15 PM | 9h 15m |
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 Lookout Point, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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 | 5:27 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:39 AM – 5:49 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:39 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:35 AM – 3:55 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:52 PM – 3:22 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:42 PM – 2:02 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:54 PM – 12:04 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:54 PM – 10:04 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:02 PM | 0.0 | 10° | 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 ≈ 21.8 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 (61%). 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 | 72 | 72 | 83 | 89 | 101 | 112 | 118 | 114 | 111 | 102 | 86 | 69 |
| Low °F | 14 | 21 | 24 | 29 | 35 | 40 | 52 | 50 | 40 | 33 | 23 | 18 |
| Precip. (in) | 6.0 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 8.3 |
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
- 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.
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Lookout Point, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Antlers (Shasta Lake, Ca)13.1 km (8.1 mi) · reservable
- Lakeshore East13.1 km (8.1 mi) · reservable
- Beehive Dispersed Area (Ca)13.6 km (8.5 mi) · reservable
- Gregory Beach Dispersed Area (Ca)13.7 km (8.5 mi) · reservable
- Gregory Creek Group Campground13.8 km (8.6 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lookout Point?
What time is golden hour at Lookout Point?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lookout Point?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lookout Point?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lookout Point?
How far is Lookout Point from Shasta Lake?
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.