Mancos Valley Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Montezuma County, Colorado at about 2,381 m (7,812 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Mesa Verde National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 11.6 km (7.2 mi) WSW of Mancos.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Mancos Valley Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:18 AM | 90° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:54 AM | 59° ENE | 8:38 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:02 AM | 89° E | 7:12 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:25 AM | 119° ESE | 5:00 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 35m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:48 PM | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:20 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:00 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:47 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:13 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:37 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:45 PM | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:07 PM | 14h 43m |
| July | 5:35 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 29m |
| August | 6:03 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:56 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:38 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:32 PM | 10h 11m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:27 PM | 9h 37m |
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 Mancos Valley Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:12 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.3 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:21 AM – 5:01 AM | 2.7 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:20 AM – 4:20 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:30 PM – 4:00 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:24 PM – 2:34 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:34 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:32 PM | 1.7 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:05 PM – 8:25 PM | 0.3 | 14° | 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 ≈ 21.83 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (57%). July is the warmest month and January 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 | 63 | 62 | 77 | 81 | 94 | 99 | 100 | 97 | 94 | 83 | 73 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | -3 | 1 | 17 | 22 | 31 | 45 | 45 | 29 | 11 | 3 | -14 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 |
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
- 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.
- 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 Mancos Valley Overlook, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Wilderness AreaScenic Viewpoint
Fire Lookout
Fire Lookout
Dark Sky PlaceFire LookoutScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Morefield Campground758 m
- Target Tree Campground20 km (12 mi) · reservable
- Mcphee Recreation Complex25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Transfer Campground25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- House Creek26 km (16 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mancos Valley Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Mancos Valley Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Mancos Valley Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Mancos Valley Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Mancos Valley Overlook?
How far is Mancos Valley Overlook from Mancos?
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.