Chessmen Ridge Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Iron County, Utah. It lies in or next to Cedar Breaks National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Cedar City, about 21 km (13 mi) away (Chessmen Ridge Overlook lies ESE of town).
From the National Park Service
Overlooking Chessmen Ridge, this overlook is centrally located on the rim overlooking the Cedar Breaks Amphitheater. It is the highest elevation overlook in the park at 10,461ft and offers stunning views of the ridge and surrounding formations. The overlook features one of the larger parking lots and can be used to access a bristlecone pine grove and the Alpine Pond Loop Trail by the Chessmen Ridge Spur Trail beginning at the overlook parking lot.
The area is open year-round, but access does vary throughout the year depending upon weather. Once the park road is closed to vehicle access (normally in November each year), the overlook is only accessible by snowshoe, cross-country skies, or snowmobiles.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Chessmen Ridge Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:36 AM | 90° E | 7:43 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:11 AM | 59° ENE | 8:57 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 46m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:20 AM | 89° E | 7:30 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:43 AM | 120° ESE | 5:17 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 33m |
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 | 7:17 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:25 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:05 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:38 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:18 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:05 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:53 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:04 PM | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:39 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:49 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:26 PM | 14h 45m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:24 PM | 14h 31m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:53 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 09m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 35m |
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 Chessmen Ridge Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:29 AM – 5:49 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:36 AM – 6:06 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:40 AM – 5:20 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:39 AM – 4:29 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:50 PM – 4:10 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:43 PM – 2:43 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:03 PM – 12:43 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:09 PM – 10:39 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:22 PM – 8:42 PM | 0.3 | 13° | 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: 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.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). 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 | 60 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 90 | 97 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 81 | 70 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | -7 | 0 | 16 | 21 | 29 | 44 | 41 | 25 | 10 | 0 | -11 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
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
- 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.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Chessmen Ridge Overlook, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Natural Arch
Dark Sky Place
Volcano
Wilderness Area
Mountain Peak
Natural ArchScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Point Supreme Campground2.2 km (1.3 mi) · reservable
- Cedar Canyon7.6 km (4.7 mi) · reservable
- Deer Haven9.3 km (5.8 mi) · reservable
- Te-Ah11.1 km (6.9 mi) · reservable
- Navajo Lake Campground12.8 km (7.9 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chessmen Ridge Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Chessmen Ridge Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Chessmen Ridge Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Chessmen Ridge Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Chessmen Ridge Overlook?
How far is Chessmen Ridge Overlook from Cedar 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.