Located in Billings County, North Dakota, Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook is a scenic viewpoint. It lies in or next to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 15.7 km (9.8 mi) WNW of Belfield.
From the National Park Service
The trail goes to the right. To your left is an overlook. Be careful; the edge drops off sharply. From the overlook, you can see how the terrain affects plant life. The slopes you see face north. They receive very little direct sunlight which helps retain moisture, allowing juniper to thrive. South-facing slopes receive a lot of direct sunlight. They are very dry and support only hardy grasses and a few drought-tolerant shrubs.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:00 AM | 53° NE | 8:53 PM | 307° NW | 67° | 15h 53m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:41 AM | 89° E | 6:53 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 125° SE | 4:08 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 31m |
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 | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:24 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:32 PM | 5:06 PM | 8h 56m |
| February | 6:28 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 19m |
| March | 6:37 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:35 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:14 PM | 13h 35m |
| May | 4:43 AM | 5:19 AM | 6:04 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:58 PM | 15h 03m |
| June | 4:19 AM | 4:59 AM | 5:46 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:30 PM | 15h 52m |
| July | 4:37 AM | 5:15 AM | 6:01 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:24 PM | 15h 31m |
| August | 5:19 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:39 PM | 14h 14m |
| September | 6:02 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:38 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 56m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:44 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:54 PM | 9h 23m |
| December | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:25 AM | 3:14 PM | 4:06 PM | 4:41 PM | 8h 33m |
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 Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 5:22 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:15 AM – 4:05 AM | 0.8 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:22 AM – 2:52 AM | 1.5 | 14° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:47 PM – 1:57 AM | 2.2 | 14° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:22 PM – 12:52 AM | 1.5 | 14° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:08 PM – 10:48 PM | 0.7 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| 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 4.0+ 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 41% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (67%). 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 | 59 | 67 | 80 | 88 | 96 | 107 | 109 | 106 | 99 | 92 | 74 | 60 |
| Low °F | -20 | -17 | -15 | 3 | 22 | 34 | 47 | 42 | 29 | 3 | -6 | -22 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
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 Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Cottonwood Group Site (Nd)10.5 km (6.5 mi) · reservable
- Cottonwood Campground (Nd)10.6 km (6.6 mi) · reservable
- Roundup Group Horse Camp12.4 km (7.7 mi) · reservable
- Buffalo Gap Campground (Nd)21 km (13 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills Overlook?
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Do you need a permit to photograph at Coal Vein Trail Post 8: Hills 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.