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37.8483° N107.1498° W3,067 mBortle 1Denver

North Clear Creek Falls Overlook Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Hinsdale County, Colorado · 3,067 m (10,062 ft)

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–301°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

North Clear Creek Falls Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Hinsdale County, Colorado at about 3,067 m (10,062 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 50 km (31 mi) ESE of Ouray.

Elevation
3,067 m
10,062 ft
Nearest town
Ouray
50 km (31 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
June
36% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.3 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:57 PM
sunset 6:32 PM

Light at North Clear Creek Falls Overlook

Live
Sunrise
7:22 AM
Sunset
6:26 PM
Golden hour AM
7:06 AM – 7:58 AM
Golden hour PM
5:50 PM – 6:42 PM
Blue hour AM
6:56 AM – 7:06 AM
Blue hour PM
6:42 PM – 6:52 PM
Full darkness
7:53 PM – 5:56 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:35 PM / 1:33 AM
Day length
11h 03m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At North Clear Creek Falls Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (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.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:13 AM90° E7:21 PM271° W52°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:47 AM59° ENE8:35 PM301° WNW76°14h 47m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:57 AM89° E7:07 PM271° W52°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:21 AM120° ESE4:54 PM241° WSW29°9h 32m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:55 AM7:24 AM8:03 AM4:34 PM5:14 PM5:42 PM9h 50m
February6:32 AM6:59 AM7:36 AM5:12 PM5:48 PM6:15 PM10h 49m
March6:54 AM7:21 AM7:55 AM6:41 PM7:16 PM7:42 PM11h 56m
April6:07 AM6:34 AM7:09 AM7:09 PM7:44 PM8:12 PM13h 10m
May5:30 AM5:59 AM6:37 AM7:35 PM8:12 PM8:42 PM14h 13m
June5:15 AM5:47 AM6:26 AM7:54 PM8:33 PM9:04 PM14h 46m
July5:29 AM5:59 AM6:37 AM7:53 PM8:31 PM9:02 PM14h 32m
August5:57 AM6:25 AM7:01 AM7:27 PM8:03 PM8:31 PM13h 38m
September6:25 AM6:51 AM7:26 AM6:44 PM7:18 PM7:45 PM12h 27m
October6:51 AM7:18 AM7:53 AM5:57 PM6:32 PM6:59 PM11h 15m
November6:22 AM6:50 AM7:28 AM4:20 PM4:58 PM5:26 PM10h 09m
December6:48 AM7:18 AM7:59 AM4:10 PM4:51 PM5:21 PM9h 34m

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 North Clear Creek Falls Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
February5:07 AM – 5:27 AM0.313°SE → SE
March4:14 AM – 5:44 AM1.520°SE → SSE
April2:18 AM – 4:58 AM2.723°SE → S
May12:17 AM – 4:07 AM3.823°SE → S
June10:28 PM – 3:48 AM5.323°SE → SSW
July10:21 PM – 2:21 AM4.023°SSE → SW
August9:41 PM – 12:21 AM2.723°S → SW
September8:47 PM – 10:17 PM1.520°SSW → SW
October8:00 PM – 8:20 PM0.313°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.92 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (55%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F485261698185878382716250
Low °F-31-20-13-311233332132-20-28
Precip. (in)1.92.01.41.71.40.72.22.22.41.81.82.2

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.
  • 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 North Clear Creek Falls Overlook, closest first.

North Clear Creek FallsWaterfall
North Clear Creek Falls0.1 km away · Hinsdale County · 3,052 m
Waterfall
South Clear Creek Falls2.6 km away · Hinsdale County · 2,941 m
Spring Creek PassMountain Pass
Spring Creek Pass10 km away · Hinsdale County · 3,319 m
Slumgullion PassMountain Pass
Slumgullion Pass17 km away · Hinsdale County · 3,462 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Windy Point Overlook17 km away · Hinsdale County · 3,293 m
Waterfall
Argenta Falls20 km away · Hinsdale County · 2,730 m
La Garita CalderaVolcano
La Garita Caldera22 km away · Mineral County
Waterfall
Crooke Falls23 km away · Hinsdale County · 2,659 m
San Luis PeakMountain Peak
San Luis Peak25 km away · Saguache County · 4,268 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph North Clear Creek Falls Overlook?
June has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
What time is golden hour at North Clear Creek Falls Overlook?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:57 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:32 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:53 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at North Clear Creek Falls Overlook?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 59° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 301° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from North Clear Creek Falls Overlook?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at North Clear Creek Falls Overlook?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is North Clear Creek Falls Overlook from Ouray?
About 50 km (31 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.