Located in Modoc County, California, Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint at about 2,003 m (6,572 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 31 km (19 mi) SSE of Lakeview.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint 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 71° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:05 AM | 90° E | 7:13 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:26 AM | 57° ENE | 8:40 PM | 303° WNW | 71° | 15h 14m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:49 AM | 89° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:26 AM | 122° ESE | 4:33 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 07m |
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 | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 28m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:35 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:11 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:09 AM | 5:41 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 33m |
| June | 4:51 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:13 PM | 15h 13m |
| July | 5:06 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:14 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:18 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:40 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:46 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:33 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:31 PM | 5:03 PM | 9h 09m |
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 Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint, 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 | 4:41 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:33 AM – 4:33 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:32 AM – 3:42 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 10:51 PM – 3:11 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:41 PM – 1:51 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:49 PM – 11:49 PM | 2.0 | 18° | S → SW |
| September | 8:47 PM – 9:47 PM | 1.0 | 15° | 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 ≈ 21.94 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 22% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (69%). 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 | 64 | 74 | 80 | 90 | 98 | 102 | 99 | 98 | 88 | 74 | 59 |
| Low °F | -10 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 21 | 29 | 39 | 38 | 28 | 19 | 4 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
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.
- Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
- 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 Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint, closest first.
Hot Spring
State Park
Scenic Viewpoint
Mountain PassCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint?
How far is Mount Vida Vista Scene Viewpoint from Lakeview?
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.