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40.4070° N74.0037° W67 mBortle 8New York

Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park

Scenic Viewpoint in Monmouth County, New Jersey · 67 m (220 ft)

  • Bortle 8 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 239°–302°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

Located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park is a scenic viewpoint at about 67 m (220 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 1.1 km (0.7 mi) WNW of Highlands.

Elevation
67 m
220 ft
Nearest town
Highlands
1.1 km (0.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 8
City sky
Clearest month
September
51% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
4.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:41 PM
sunset 6:18 PM

Light at Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park

Live
Sunrise
7:13 AM
Sunset
6:10 PM
Golden hour AM
6:56 AM – 7:50 AM
Golden hour PM
5:33 PM – 6:27 PM
Blue hour AM
6:45 AM – 6:56 AM
Blue hour PM
6:27 PM – 6:38 PM
Full darkness
7:41 PM – 5:43 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:24 PM / 1:09 AM
Day length
10h 57m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. 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 Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:00 AM90° E7:08 PM271° W49°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:27 AM58° ENE8:30 PM302° WNW73°15h 04m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:44 AM89° E6:55 PM271° W50°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:16 AM121° ESE4:33 PM239° WSW26°9h 17m

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
January6:48 AM7:18 AM8:00 AM4:12 PM4:54 PM5:24 PM9h 36m
February6:23 AM6:51 AM7:29 AM4:54 PM5:32 PM5:59 PM10h 41m
March6:41 AM7:09 AM7:45 AM6:27 PM7:03 PM7:30 PM11h 54m
April5:50 AM6:18 AM6:55 AM6:58 PM7:35 PM8:03 PM13h 17m
May5:10 AM5:41 AM6:20 AM7:27 PM8:06 PM8:37 PM14h 25m
June4:53 AM5:26 AM6:07 AM7:48 PM8:29 PM9:02 PM15h 02m
July5:07 AM5:39 AM6:19 AM7:46 PM8:26 PM8:58 PM14h 47m
August5:38 AM6:08 AM6:45 AM7:18 PM7:55 PM8:24 PM13h 48m
September6:10 AM6:38 AM7:13 AM6:31 PM7:07 PM7:34 PM12h 29m
October6:40 AM7:07 AM7:44 AM5:41 PM6:18 PM6:45 PM11h 10m
November6:14 AM6:43 AM7:23 AM4:00 PM4:40 PM5:09 PM9h 57m
December6:42 AM7:13 AM7:56 AM3:48 PM4:31 PM5:02 PM9h 18m

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 Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:13 AM – 5:13 AM0.011°SE → SE
March4:24 AM – 5:34 AM1.217°SE → SSE
April2:23 AM – 4:33 AM2.220°SE → S
May12:18 AM – 3:38 AM3.321°SE → S
June10:34 PM – 3:14 AM4.721°SSE → SSW
July10:25 PM – 1:55 AM3.521°S → SW
August9:38 PM – 11:48 PM2.220°S → SW
September8:40 PM – 9:50 PM1.217°SSW → SW
October7:48 PM – 7:48 PM0.011°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
DecemberBelow 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.35 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). 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 °F67717391889610210196927571
Low °F-2-3024334452534328146
Precip. (in)3.13.43.93.93.84.74.54.43.84.43.64.4

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.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park, closest first.

Lighthouse
Highlands Light1.9 km away · Monmouth County
Navesink north lighthouseLighthouse
Navesink north lighthouse1.9 km away · Monmouth County
Navesink south lighthouseLighthouse
Navesink south lighthouse1.9 km away · Monmouth County
Conover BeaconLighthouse
Conover Beacon4.7 km away · Monmouth County
Lighthouse
Chapel Hill Rear Range Light4.8 km away · Monmouth County
Sandy Hook LightLighthouse
Sandy Hook Light6.1 km away · Monmouth County
Romer Shoal LightLighthouse
Romer Shoal Light12 km away · Union County
Lighthouse
Waackaack Rear Range Light12 km away · Monmouth County
Old Orchard Shoal LightLighthouse
Old Orchard Shoal Light14 km away · Richmond County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park?
September 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 Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:41 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:18 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:44 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 121° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 239°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 8 (city sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park?
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 Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park from Highlands?
About 1.1 km (0.7 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.