Doc Valley Overlook — a scenic viewpoint in Uintah County, Utah at about 2,313 m (7,589 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Naples, about 29 km (18 mi) away (Doc Valley Overlook lies E of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Doc Valley Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:21 AM | 90° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:47 AM | 58° ENE | 8:51 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:05 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 121° ESE | 4:54 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 17m |
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 | 7:09 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:20 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:43 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:20 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:02 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:51 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:13 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:28 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:22 PM | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:40 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 47m |
| August | 5:59 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:55 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:38 PM | 7:05 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:20 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:30 PM | 9h 57m |
| December | 7:03 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 18m |
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 Doc Valley Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:34 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:45 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:44 AM – 4:54 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:39 AM – 3:59 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:55 PM – 3:35 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:46 PM – 2:16 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:59 PM – 12:09 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:00 PM – 10:10 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:09 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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 ≈ 21.88 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (69%). 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 | 54 | 61 | 73 | 81 | 94 | 97 | 101 | 98 | 95 | 81 | 67 | 53 |
| Low °F | -15 | -11 | 1 | 14 | 20 | 31 | 44 | 39 | 28 | 2 | -1 | -11 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Doc Valley Overlook, closest first.
Canyon
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Natural Arch
Dark Sky PlaceNatural ArchScenic Viewpoint
CaveCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Rainbow Park Campground6.6 km (4.1 mi) · reservable
- Rainbow Park Campground6.7 km (4.1 mi)
- Green River Campground7.6 km (4.7 mi) · reservable
- Split Mountain Group Campground8.1 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Echo Park Campground16.8 km (10.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Doc Valley Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Doc Valley Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Doc Valley Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Doc Valley Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Doc Valley Overlook?
How far is Doc Valley Overlook from Naples?
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.