Coal Lake Viewpoint — a scenic viewpoint in Snohomish County, Washington at about 941 m (3,087 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Darrington, about 18.0 km (11.2 mi) away (Coal Lake Viewpoint lies SSE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Coal Lake Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:07 AM | 52° NE | 9:11 PM | 308° NW | 65° | 16h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:54 AM | 126° SE | 4:16 PM | 235° SW | 18° | 8h 21m |
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 | 7:52 AM | 8:43 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:40 PM | 5:15 PM | 8h 48m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:29 PM | 6:01 PM | 10h 15m |
| March | 6:49 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 39m |
| May | 4:51 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:16 PM | 15h 11m |
| June | 4:25 AM | 5:06 AM | 5:55 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:09 PM | 9:50 PM | 16h 02m |
| July | 4:43 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:10 AM | 8:15 PM | 9:03 PM | 9:42 PM | 15h 40m |
| August | 5:27 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 20m |
| September | 6:13 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 36m |
| October | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:19 PM | 6:50 PM | 10h 53m |
| November | 6:40 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:02 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 16m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:44 AM | 3:20 PM | 4:14 PM | 4:50 PM | 8h 23m |
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 Coal Lake Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through July. June gives the longest window (about 1.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -6° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| April | 3:42 AM – 4:12 AM | 0.5 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:44 AM – 2:54 AM | 1.2 | 13° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:23 AM – 1:43 AM | 1.3 | 13° | SSE → S |
| July | 11:49 PM – 12:49 AM | 1.0 | 13° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:27 PM – 10:47 PM | 0.3 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.28 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 42% average cloud cover) and November as the cloudiest (76%). August 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 | 47 | 50 | 56 | 68 | 77 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 86 | 76 | 55 | 41 |
| Low °F | -20 | -17 | -12 | 1 | 16 | 28 | 34 | 35 | 24 | -2 | -17 | -20 |
| Precip. (in) | 9.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 7.2 | 10.7 | 9.1 |
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.
- 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 Coal Lake Viewpoint, closest first.
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Waterfall
Mountain PassWaterfallWaterfall
Mountain Peak
Lake
Fire LookoutCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Coal Creek Group Camp2.9 km (1.8 mi) · reservable
- Red Bridge Campground 9.8 km (6.1 mi) · reservable
- Bedal Campground10.4 km (6.4 mi) · reservable
- Boardman Group Camp11.7 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- Esswine Group Camp13.0 km (8.1 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Coal Lake Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Coal Lake Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Coal Lake Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Coal Lake Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Coal Lake Viewpoint?
How far is Coal Lake Viewpoint from Darrington?
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.