Located in Pennington County, South Dakota, Borglum View Terrace is a scenic viewpoint. It lies in or next to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Custer, about 16.9 km (10.5 mi) away (Borglum View Terrace lies NE of town).
From the National Park Service
Stand where Gutzon Borglum stood when planning the carving of Mount Rushmore National Memorial from 1927 to 1939. In the late 50’s the original studio was torn down. The only parts that remain are the two fireplaces. The framework you see today was put in place when the terrace was built to showcase the original size and location of the studio.
While exploring the areas make sure to read the essay inscribed on the bronze plaque on the remnants of the original studio.
Gutzon Borglum teamed up with the Hearst newspapers in 1934 to sponsor an essay contest to sum up the first 100 years of United States history. The winner would have their words carved into some part of Mount Rushmore along with the four presidents. After winners were selected and prizes awarded, Borglum decided against carving any text into his sculpture. A young Nebraskan named William Andrew Burkett, triumphed in the college-age category, and later donated this plaque showcasing his winning essay.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Borglum View Terrace the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:58 AM | 90° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:12 AM | 56° NE | 8:41 PM | 305° NW | 70° | 15h 28m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:42 AM | 89° E | 6:53 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:26 AM | 123° ESE | 4:20 PM | 238° WSW | 23° | 8h 54m |
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 | 6:54 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:11 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:14 PM | 9h 16m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:54 PM | 10h 30m |
| March | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:22 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:29 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:41 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:08 PM | 13h 26m |
| May | 4:56 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:46 PM | 14h 44m |
| June | 4:36 AM | 5:12 AM | 5:56 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:15 PM | 15h 27m |
| July | 4:51 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:10 PM | 15h 09m |
| August | 5:28 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:20 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 01m |
| September | 6:05 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:35 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 6:40 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:12 PM | 6:41 PM | 11h 03m |
| November | 6:18 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:33 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:29 PM | 5:00 PM | 9h 40m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:09 AM | 3:30 PM | 4:18 PM | 4:51 PM | 8h 56m |
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 Borglum View Terrace, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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 | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:47 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.7 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:43 AM – 4:23 AM | 1.7 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:48 AM – 3:18 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:04 PM – 2:44 AM | 3.7 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:50 PM – 1:20 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:52 PM – 11:22 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:45 PM – 9:15 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.74 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 September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 69 | 79 | 87 | 95 | 106 | 108 | 104 | 101 | 89 | 76 | 64 |
| Low °F | -10 | -12 | -9 | 8 | 20 | 36 | 46 | 40 | 28 | 2 | -2 | -13 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 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
- 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.
- 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 Borglum View Terrace, closest first.
Mountain Peak
Waterfall
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Mountain Peak
Fire Lookout
Wilderness Area
Natural Arch
CaveCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Grizzly Bear Campground1.8 km (1.1 mi) · reservable
- Horsethief Lake Campground3.0 km (1.9 mi) · reservable
- Iron Creek Horse Camp6.8 km (4.2 mi) · reservable
- Willow Creek Horse Camp7.0 km (4.3 mi) · reservable
- Sheridan Lake11.5 km (7.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Borglum View Terrace?
What time is golden hour at Borglum View Terrace?
Where does the sun rise and set at Borglum View Terrace?
Can you see the Milky Way from Borglum View Terrace?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Borglum View Terrace?
How far is Borglum View Terrace from Custer?
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.