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46.4980° N111.2650° W2,320 mBortle 1Denver

Vista Point of Interest Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Meagher County, Montana · 2,320 m (7,612 ft)

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 236°–307°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug

Located in Meagher County, Montana, Vista Point of Interest is a scenic viewpoint at about 2,320 m (7,612 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 28 km (17 mi) NE of Townsend.

Elevation
2,320 m
7,612 ft
Nearest town
Townsend
28 km (17 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
July
39% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
2.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:59 PM
sunset 6:40 PM

Light at Vista Point of Interest

Live
Sunrise
7:50 AM
Sunset
6:31 PM
Golden hour AM
7:31 AM – 8:32 AM
Golden hour PM
5:49 PM – 6:50 PM
Blue hour AM
7:19 AM – 7:31 AM
Blue hour PM
6:50 PM – 7:02 PM
Full darkness
8:12 PM – 6:11 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
4:07 PM / 1:29 AM
Day length
10h 41m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
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 Vista Point of Interest the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:29 AM89° E7:38 PM271° W43°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:33 AM54° NE9:22 PM307° NW67°15h 49m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:13 AM89° E7:25 PM271° W44°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)8:07 AM124° SE4:41 PM236° SW20°8h 34m

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
January7:32 AM8:05 AM8:54 AM4:16 PM5:05 PM5:39 PM8h 59m
February6:59 AM7:30 AM8:12 AM5:08 PM5:51 PM6:22 PM10h 21m
March7:09 AM7:39 AM8:19 AM6:51 PM7:31 PM8:01 PM11h 52m
April6:07 AM6:39 AM7:19 AM7:32 PM8:13 PM8:44 PM13h 34m
May5:17 AM5:52 AM6:36 AM8:09 PM8:52 PM9:28 PM15h 00m
June4:53 AM5:32 AM6:19 AM8:34 PM9:20 PM10:00 PM15h 48m
July5:10 AM5:48 AM6:33 AM8:30 PM9:15 PM9:53 PM15h 28m
August5:51 AM6:24 AM7:06 AM7:55 PM8:37 PM9:10 PM14h 12m
September6:33 AM7:04 AM7:44 AM6:59 PM7:39 PM8:09 PM12h 35m
October7:13 AM7:43 AM8:24 AM5:59 PM6:40 PM7:10 PM10h 57m
November6:55 AM7:28 AM8:14 AM4:07 PM4:53 PM5:26 PM9h 26m
December7:28 AM8:03 AM8:54 AM3:48 PM4:39 PM5:14 PM8h 36m

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 Vista Point of Interest, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° 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—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
March5:42 AM – 5:52 AM0.211°SSE → SSE
April3:44 AM – 4:44 AM1.014°SSE → S
May1:39 AM – 3:29 AM1.815°SSE → S
June12:09 AM – 2:39 AM2.515°SSE → SSW
July11:47 PM – 1:27 AM1.715°S → SSW
August10:36 PM – 11:26 PM0.813°SSW → SSW
September9:22 PM – 9:22 PM0.011°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.91 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 39% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (72%). 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 °F425166778692999488806446
Low °F-29-32-2551827363521-7-25-32
Precip. (in)1.41.71.72.53.03.51.41.41.71.71.41.4

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

  • 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.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

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.

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Vista Point of Interest?
July 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 Vista Point of Interest?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:59 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:40 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:24 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Vista Point of Interest?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 54° in June to 124° in December; sunset ranges from 307° to 236°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Vista Point of Interest?
Yes — the core is visible from April to August on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Vista Point of Interest?
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 Vista Point of Interest from Townsend?
About 28 km (17 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.