Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Cuyahoga County, Ohio at about 221 m (725 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Rocky River, about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) away (Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook lies SE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:32 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:54 AM | 57° ENE | 9:05 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 11m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:15 AM | 89° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:51 AM | 121° ESE | 5:01 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 10m |
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 | 7:22 AM | 7:52 AM | 8:35 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:53 PM | 9h 31m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:23 PM | 6:01 PM | 6:30 PM | 10h 38m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 19m |
| May | 5:38 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:49 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:11 PM | 14h 31m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:36 AM | 8:22 PM | 9:03 PM | 9:37 PM | 15h 10m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:48 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:01 PM | 9:33 PM | 14h 53m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:58 PM | 13h 51m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:06 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:39 PM | 9h 52m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:32 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:31 PM | 9h 12m |
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 Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:56 AM – 5:56 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:57 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:55 AM – 4:05 AM | 3.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 11:13 PM – 3:43 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:03 PM – 2:13 AM | 3.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 10:13 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 9:13 PM – 10:13 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:20 PM – 8:20 PM | 0.0 | 10° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.26 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ 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 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (84%). 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 | 62 | 66 | 79 | 79 | 92 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 94 | 86 | 76 | 65 |
| Low °F | -10 | -11 | -1 | 18 | 27 | 40 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 29 | 13 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
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.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Botanical Garden
Waterfall
Botanical GardenScenic ViewpointFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook?
How far is Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook from Rocky River?
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.