Lookout Point is a scenic viewpoint in Gallatin County, Montana at about 2,855 m (9,367 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 36 km (22 mi) S of Big Sky.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lookout Point the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:29 AM | 90° E | 7:38 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:40 AM | 55° NE | 9:16 PM | 305° NW | 68° | 15h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:01 AM | 123° ESE | 4:47 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 46m |
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 | 7:28 AM | 8:01 AM | 8:47 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:10 PM | 5:43 PM | 9h 10m |
| February | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 PM | 10h 27m |
| March | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:01 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:40 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:22 PM | 14h 51m |
| June | 5:02 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:24 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:14 PM | 9:52 PM | 15h 35m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:46 PM | 15h 16m |
| August | 5:56 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 05m |
| September | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:22 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:42 PM | 7:12 PM | 11h 00m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:30 PM | 9h 34m |
| December | 7:24 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:46 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:19 PM | 8h 48m |
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 Lookout Point, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:29 AM – 5:49 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:28 AM – 4:48 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:26 AM – 3:36 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:47 PM – 2:57 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:30 PM – 1:40 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:28 PM – 11:38 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:18 PM – 9:38 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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 ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (75%). 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 | 32 | 33 | 54 | 69 | 79 | 86 | 96 | 94 | 87 | 76 | 58 | 37 |
| Low °F | -30 | -33 | -19 | -7 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 29 | 20 | -2 | -21 | -31 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
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
- 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.
- 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 Lookout Point, closest first.
Waterfall
Lake
Lake
Wilderness Area
Hot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Beaver Creek Cabin (Mt)5.4 km (3.3 mi) · reservable
- Wapiti Cabin9.7 km (6.0 mi) · reservable
- Cabin Creek Campground10.2 km (6.3 mi) · reservable
- Beaver Creek Campground11.6 km (7.2 mi) · reservable
- Eldridge Guard Station12.1 km (7.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lookout Point?
What time is golden hour at Lookout Point?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lookout Point?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lookout Point?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lookout Point?
How far is Lookout Point from Big Sky?
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.