Forest Canyon Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Larimer County, Colorado at about 3,567 m (11,703 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Rocky Mountain National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Estes Park, about 16.1 km (10.0 mi) away (Forest Canyon Overlook lies W of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Forest Canyon Overlook 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 302° (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) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:34 AM | 58° ENE | 8:37 PM | 302° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:51 AM | 89° E | 7:02 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 121° ESE | 4:40 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 17m |
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 | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:31 PM | 9h 37m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:06 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 6:48 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:37 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:17 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:00 AM | 5:33 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:09 PM | 15h 02m |
| July | 5:14 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 47m |
| August | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:31 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:17 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:41 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:47 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:52 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:16 PM | 9h 57m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:03 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:09 PM | 9h 18m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Forest Canyon Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:20 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:31 AM – 5:41 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:30 AM – 4:40 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:25 AM – 3:45 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:41 PM – 3:21 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 2:02 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:45 PM – 11:55 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:46 PM – 9:56 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:55 PM – 7:55 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.42 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 September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (67%). 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 | 46 | 48 | 65 | 71 | 83 | 89 | 90 | 88 | 85 | 74 | 62 | 50 |
| Low °F | -26 | -31 | -15 | -3 | 5 | 27 | 36 | 31 | 19 | -4 | -12 | -19 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
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
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- 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.
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Forest Canyon Overlook, closest first.
Waterfall
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Pass
Mountain Peak
Scenic Viewpoint
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground9.9 km (6.2 mi) · reservable
- Rocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen Campground10.0 km (6.2 mi) · reservable
- Rocky Mountain National Park Timber Creek Campground11.9 km (7.4 mi) · reservable
- Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground12.4 km (7.7 mi) · reservable
- Grandview Campground13.5 km (8.4 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Forest Canyon Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Forest Canyon Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Forest Canyon Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Forest Canyon Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Forest Canyon Overlook?
How far is Forest Canyon Overlook from Estes Park?
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.