Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint in Union County, Oregon at about 1,549 m (5,082 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Elgin, about 22 km (14 mi) away (Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint lies NNW of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:56 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:03 AM | 54° NE | 8:46 PM | 306° NW | 68° | 15h 43m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:40 AM | 89° E | 6:52 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:31 AM | 124° SE | 4:11 PM | 236° WSW | 21° | 8h 40m |
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 | 6:57 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:17 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:08 PM | 9h 05m |
| February | 6:25 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 24m |
| March | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:36 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 32m |
| May | 4:47 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:52 PM | 14h 55m |
| June | 4:24 AM | 5:03 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:23 PM | 15h 42m |
| July | 4:41 AM | 5:18 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:16 PM | 15h 22m |
| August | 5:21 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 09m |
| September | 6:01 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:35 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:27 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:38 PM | 10h 59m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:38 AM | 3:37 PM | 4:23 PM | 4:55 PM | 9h 30m |
| December | 6:53 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:17 AM | 3:19 PM | 4:09 PM | 4:44 PM | 8h 42m |
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 Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 4:58 AM – 5:18 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:58 AM – 4:08 AM | 1.2 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 12:59 AM – 2:59 AM | 2.0 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:24 PM – 2:14 AM | 2.8 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:05 PM – 1:05 AM | 2.0 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:59 PM – 10:59 PM | 1.0 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:47 PM – 8:57 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 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 ≈ 21.82 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 25% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (76%). 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 | 63 | 63 | 76 | 84 | 92 | 100 | 101 | 103 | 100 | 87 | 72 | 58 |
| Low °F | -9 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 28 | 35 | 44 | 43 | 31 | 15 | 5 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint, closest first.
Wilderness Area
Waterfall
National ForestCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Woodland Campground2.8 km (1.8 mi) · reservable
- Woodward Campground6.1 km (3.8 mi) · reservable
- Target Meadows Campground7.6 km (4.7 mi) · reservable
- Jubilee Lake Campground (Or)12.0 km (7.5 mi) · reservable
- Fry Meadows Guard Station17.2 km (10.7 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint?
How far is Umatilla Brakes Viewpoint from Elgin?
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.