Melrose Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana at about 56 m (184 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 20 km (13 mi) S of Vienna Bend.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Melrose 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 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:17 AM | 90° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:08 AM | 62° ENE | 8:21 PM | 299° WNW | 82° | 14h 12m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:01 AM | 89° E | 7:10 PM | 271° W | 59° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:08 AM | 117° ESE | 5:14 PM | 243° WSW | 35° | 10h 05m |
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 | 6:46 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 19m |
| February | 6:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:24 PM | 11h 05m |
| March | 6:59 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:45 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:19 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:06 PM | 12h 57m |
| May | 5:50 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 46m |
| June | 5:40 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 12m |
| July | 5:51 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:46 PM | 14h 01m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 19m |
| September | 6:33 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:41 PM | 7:06 PM | 11h 26m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:40 PM | 10h 34m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:38 PM | 10h 06m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Melrose 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 30° 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:41 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:51 AM – 5:51 AM | 2.0 | 26° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:46 AM – 5:16 AM | 3.5 | 30° | SE → S |
| May | 11:45 PM – 4:35 AM | 4.8 | 30° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:58 PM – 4:28 AM | 6.5 | 30° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:55 PM – 2:55 AM | 5.0 | 30° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:25 PM – 12:55 AM | 3.5 | 30° | S → SW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:51 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:52 PM | 0.8 | 18° | 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 February as the cloudiest (62%). August 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 | 76 | 81 | 88 | 94 | 101 | 105 | 107 | 109 | 105 | 97 | 88 | 80 |
| Low °F | 17 | 19 | 22 | 33 | 41 | 60 | 64 | 57 | 47 | 35 | 21 | 22 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 5.0 |
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
- 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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Melrose Overlook, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Corral Ohv Camp9.1 km (5.7 mi) · reservable
- Cane11.5 km (7.2 mi) · reservable
- Lotus Ohv Camp11.9 km (7.4 mi) · reservable
- Kisatchie Bayou Recreation Area13.4 km (8.3 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Melrose Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Melrose Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Melrose Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Melrose Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Melrose Overlook?
How far is Melrose Overlook from Vienna Bend?
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.