Alum Bluff Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Liberty County, Florida — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Blountstown, about 6.2 km (3.9 mi) away (Alum Bluff Overlook lies ENE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Alum Bluff Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:45 AM | 90° E | 7:52 PM | 271° W | 59° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:39 AM | 62° ENE | 8:46 PM | 298° WNW | 83° | 14h 07m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:29 AM | 89° E | 7:38 PM | 271° W | 60° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:34 AM | 117° ESE | 5:44 PM | 243° WSW | 36° | 10h 11m |
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 | 7:12 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:14 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:02 PM | 6:28 PM | 10h 24m |
| February | 6:57 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:53 PM | 11h 07m |
| March | 7:27 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:23 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:13 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:49 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:32 PM | 12h 55m |
| May | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:54 PM | 13h 41m |
| June | 6:11 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:13 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 06m |
| July | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:11 PM | 13h 56m |
| August | 6:42 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 16m |
| September | 7:01 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:57 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:11 PM | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:34 PM | 11h 27m |
| November | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:44 PM | 6:10 PM | 10h 38m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:07 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 11m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Alum Bluff Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° 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 | 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:09 AM – 6:29 AM | 2.3 | 27° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:12 AM – 5:42 AM | 3.5 | 31° | SE → S |
| May | 12:09 AM – 5:09 AM | 5.0 | 31° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:22 PM – 4:52 AM | 6.5 | 31° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:19 PM – 3:29 AM | 5.2 | 31° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:50 PM – 1:30 AM | 3.7 | 31° | S → SW |
| September | 9:08 PM – 11:28 PM | 2.3 | 28° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM | 1.0 | 19° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 21.78 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). 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 | 81 | 86 | 89 | 96 | 103 | 109 | 110 | 107 | 104 | 100 | 89 | 85 |
| Low °F | 18 | 21 | 22 | 35 | 44 | 60 | 61 | 61 | 49 | 32 | 21 | 21 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 4.5 |
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.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Alum Bluff Overlook, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Alum Bluff Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Alum Bluff Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Alum Bluff Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Alum Bluff Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Alum Bluff Overlook?
How far is Alum Bluff Overlook from Blountstown?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.