33 Hole Scenic Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Clark County, Nevada — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 14.8 km (9.2 mi) N of Boulder City.
From the National Park Service
Enjoy a picnic with panoramic views of the Las Vegas Bay and the Black Mesa. Here you will find the trailhead for the Owl Canyon, a 2.2 miles moderate hike where burrowing owls are known to occasionally roost. This overlook also provides hiking access to the Cliffs View Point.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At 33 Hole Scenic Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:44 AM | 90° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:23 AM | 60° ENE | 8:00 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:28 AM | 89° E | 6:38 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:47 AM | 119° ESE | 4:29 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 42m |
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 | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:17 PM | 9h 58m |
| February | 6:01 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:47 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:13 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:40 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:13 PM | 7:40 PM | 13h 07m |
| May | 5:06 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:08 PM | 14h 05m |
| June | 4:52 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:01 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:29 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:05 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:27 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 5:31 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:34 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:58 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 5:57 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:57 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:14 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:21 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 5:50 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:54 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:33 PM | 5:00 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 6:15 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:56 PM | 9h 43m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 33 Hole Scenic Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:27 AM – 4:57 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:32 AM – 5:22 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:33 AM – 4:33 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 11:39 PM – 3:49 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:48 PM – 3:28 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:42 PM – 2:02 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:05 PM – 12:05 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:14 PM – 9:54 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.75 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 22% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (48%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 79 | 80 | 90 | 99 | 109 | 116 | 116 | 115 | 113 | 100 | 89 | 75 |
| Low °F | 20 | 21 | 26 | 33 | 39 | 51 | 68 | 62 | 47 | 29 | 23 | 21 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of 33 Hole Scenic Overlook, closest first.
Beach
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Hot Spring
Mountain Peak
Mountain PassHot SpringHot SpringHot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Las Vegas Bay Campground3.3 km (2.0 mi)
- Las Vegas Bay Campground3.3 km (2.0 mi) · reservable
- Boulder Beach Campground9.0 km (5.6 mi) · reservable
- Boulder Beach Group Campsites9.1 km (5.6 mi) · reservable
- Lake Mead Rv Village9.3 km (5.8 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph 33 Hole Scenic Overlook?
What time is golden hour at 33 Hole Scenic Overlook?
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Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.