Battlefield Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 35 km (22 mi) NW of Elk City.
From the National Park Service
The Battlefield Overlook provides a view of the Washita River valley where Black Kettle's village was located. This was the site where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer led the 7th US Cavalry in a surprise dawn attack against Black Kettle's Cheyenne village along the Washita River on November 27, 1868. The Attack Black Kettle's village was located on the south bank of the Washita River which runs through the line of trees in the middle of the valley. During the night before the attack, Custer led his troops in from the north following the trail of a Cheyenne war party. Upon reaching the far hills in the dark, the scouts determined that a village was in the valley from a dog's bark and a baby's cry. Custer decided to split his forces into four battalions to surround the village and launched a surprise attack at first light. The village fell quickly as they were caught off guard by the surprise attack, allowing the cavalry to quickly secure the village. Skirmishes continued throughout the day as villagers fled to the downstream camps, ultimately leading to the deaths of Custer's second in command, Maj. Joel Elliott, along with 17 soldiers as they chased after fleeing Cheyenne.
As the downstream camps got word of the attack, their warriors began gathering on the hills to the north and east. However, Custer had already taken captives from the village, so the responding warriors did not launch a counter attack against the cavalry in fear that the captives would be killed. Upon seeing that he was quickly becoming outnumbered by the responding warriors, Custer ordered the majority of the Cheyenne horse herd that couldn't be taken with him killed. Then he feinted to the east towards the downstream villages like he was attacking before doubling back under the cover of darkness to begin the return trek to the north.
In the end, more than 50 Cheyenne were killed and 53 taken captive while the 7th US Cavalry lost 22 soldiers in the attack. Preserving the Story Prior to the creation of Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, a 3.5 acre overlook was first created and maintained by the Oklahoma Historical Society to preserve the story of the attack. Then in 1996, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site was formed, ultimately leading to the National Park Service protecting the site of Black Kettle's village along the Washita as well as the overlook.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Battlefield 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:43 AM | 90° E | 7:51 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:24 AM | 60° ENE | 8:58 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 34m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:27 AM | 89° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:45 AM | 119° ESE | 5:30 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 45m |
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 | 7:21 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:27 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 01m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:47 PM | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:25 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:24 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:12 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:40 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:38 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 03m |
| June | 5:53 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:57 PM | 9:27 PM | 14h 33m |
| July | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:56 PM | 9:25 PM | 14h 20m |
| August | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:30 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 31m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:56 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:13 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:20 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:30 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:48 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:33 PM | 6:00 PM | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:56 PM | 9h 46m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Battlefield Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:27 AM – 5:57 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:32 AM – 6:22 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:37 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:45 PM – 4:35 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:40 PM – 3:10 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:03 PM – 1:03 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:14 PM – 11:04 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:30 PM – 9:00 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.87 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). 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 | 77 | 89 | 92 | 99 | 104 | 114 | 114 | 114 | 104 | 98 | 88 | 77 |
| Low °F | 5 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 35 | 52 | 59 | 56 | 44 | 21 | 16 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Battlefield Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Battlefield Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Battlefield Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Battlefield Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Battlefield Overlook?
How far is Battlefield Overlook from Elk City?
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.