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Scenic Viewpoints in Colorado

59 scenic viewpoints in Colorado with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Mesa County has the most (19). The darkest skies are at Dolores Canyon Overlook Picnic Area (Bortle 1).

Top scenic viewpoints

Cedar Point OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Cedar Point OverlookMontrose County · 2,134 m
Balanced Rock OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Balanced Rock OverlookMontrose County
Big Island OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Big Island OverlookMontrose County
Bookcliff View ShelterScenic Viewpoint
Bookcliff View ShelterMesa County
Chasm View OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Chasm View OverlookMontrose County
Cliff Canyon OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Cliff Canyon OverlookMontezuma County
Cliff Palace OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Cliff Palace OverlookMontezuma County
Scenic Viewpoint
Cliff Palace ViewMontezuma County
Scenic Viewpoint
Animas OverlookLa Plata County · 2,548 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Artists PointMesa County · 1,879 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Badger House OverlookMontezuma County · 2,054 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Book Cliff ViewMesa County · 1,665 m

Scenic Viewpoints by county

All scenic viewpoints (59)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Cedar Point OverlookBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonMontrose County2,134 mMontrose2
Balanced Rock OverlookBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonMontrose County—Montrose2
Big Island OverlookBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonMontrose County—Montrose2
Bookcliff View ShelterColoradoMesa County—Fruita4
Chasm View OverlookBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonMontrose County—Montrose2
Cliff Canyon OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County—Cortez2
Cliff Palace OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County—Cortez2
Cliff Palace ViewMesa VerdeMontezuma County—Cortez2
Animas OverlookLa Plata County2,548 mDurango3
Artists PointColoradoMesa County1,879 mRedlands4
Badger House OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,054 mCortez2
Book Cliff ViewColoradoMesa County1,665 mFruita4
Coke Ovens OverlookColoradoMesa County1,905 mRedlands4
Cold Shivers PointColoradoMesa County1,845 mRedlands5
Cross Fissures Overlook IIBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonMontrose County2,347 mMontrose2
Deep Creek OverlookGarfield County2,974 mGlenwood Springs2
Dillon OverlookSummit County2,763 mSilverthorne5
Distant ViewColoradoMesa County1,716 mFruita4
Dolores Canyon Overlook Picnic AreaDolores County2,442 mMonticello1
Fallen Rock OverlookColoradoMesa County1,986 mRedlands4
Fruita Canyon ViewColoradoMesa County1,740 mFruita4
Grand ViewColoradoMesa County1,813 mFruita4
Highland ViewColoradoMesa County1,924 mRedlands4
Historic Trail ViewMesa County1,530 mFruita5
Land O Lakes OverlookDelta County3,274 mCedaredge2
Lands End Overlook Picnic GroundMesa County3,383 mCrested Butte2
Mancos Valley OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,381 mMancos2
Moccasin OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,539 mCortez2
Moffat OverlookGrand County2,781 mFraser4
Montezuma Valley OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,383 mCortez2
North Clear Creek Falls OverlookHinsdale County3,067 mOuray1
Overlook Athletic Club HeliportSummit County3,069 mBreckenridge5
Overlook PointLa Plata County3,956 mDurango1
Overlook Reservoir Number OneDolores County2,365 mMonticello1
Pioneer Lookout PointCurecantiGunnison County2,449 mMontrose2
Pulpit Rock OverlookBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonMontrose County2,461 mMontrose2
Red Canyon OverlookColoradoMesa County1,958 mRedlands4
Ridge Point OverlookMontezuma County2,218 mCortez2
Sally OverlookArchuleta County2,582 mPagosa Springs1
Sapphire Point OverlookSummit County2,900 mFrisco4
Soda Canyon OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,075 mCortez2
Tabeguache OverlookMontrose County2,835 mOlathe1
Virgins Bath OverlookDouglas County2,678 mPerry Park4
Windy Point OverlookHinsdale County3,293 mOuray1
Davis OverlookPark County3,164 mBreckenridge3
Escalante OverlookMoffat County2,357 mRangely1
Forest Canyon OverlookRocky MountainLarimer County3,567 mEstes Park3
Gore Range OverlookRocky MountainLarimer County3,663 mEstes Park3
Harding Hole OverlookDinosaurMoffat County1,765 mRangely1
Soda Balcony OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,039 mCortez2
Kodak House OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,008 mTowaoc2
Long House OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,103 mTowaoc2
Park Point OverlookMesa VerdeMontezuma County2,611 mCortez2
Redlands ViewColoradoMesa County1,518 mFruita5
Balanced Rock ViewColoradoMesa County1,573 mFruita4
Independence Monument ViewColoradoMesa County1,788 mFruita4
Monument Canyon ViewColoradoMesa County1,827 mRedlands4
Upper Ute Canyon OverlookColoradoMesa County1,945 mRedlands4
Ute Canyon ViewColoradoMesa County1,975 mRedlands4

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph scenic viewpoints

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.

  • 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.

Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.