Debris Dam Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint in Cowlitz County, Washington at about 416 m (1,365 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 30 km (19 mi) SSW of Morton.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Debris Dam 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° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:14 AM | 89° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:18 AM | 54° NE | 9:06 PM | 306° NW | 67° | 15h 48m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:58 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:51 AM | 124° SE | 4:27 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 36m |
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 | 7:16 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:38 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:24 PM | 9h 01m |
| February | 6:43 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 22m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:46 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 34m |
| May | 5:02 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 59m |
| June | 4:39 AM | 5:18 AM | 6:05 AM | 8:18 PM | 9:04 PM | 9:43 PM | 15h 46m |
| July | 4:56 AM | 5:33 AM | 6:19 AM | 8:14 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:37 PM | 15h 26m |
| August | 5:37 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 11m |
| September | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:53 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:55 PM | 10h 57m |
| November | 6:40 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:58 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:39 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 26m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:38 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:25 PM | 5:00 PM | 8h 38m |
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 Debris Dam Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 5:26 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:28 AM – 4:28 AM | 1.0 | 14° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:22 AM – 3:12 AM | 1.8 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:49 PM – 2:29 AM | 2.7 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:29 PM – 1:19 AM | 1.8 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:20 PM – 11:10 PM | 0.8 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:07 PM – 9:17 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.43 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 48% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (81%). 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 | 60 | 59 | 70 | 84 | 90 | 95 | 101 | 98 | 95 | 83 | 65 | 57 |
| Low °F | 4 | 5 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 37 | 41 | 42 | 30 | 22 | 6 | 3 |
| Precip. (in) | 9.6 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 5.4 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 6.6 | 10.1 | 9.8 |
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
- 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.
- Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
- 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 Debris Dam Viewpoint, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
LakeScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallWaterfall
Waterfall
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Debris Dam Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Debris Dam Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Debris Dam Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Debris Dam Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Debris Dam Viewpoint?
How far is Debris Dam Viewpoint from Morton?
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.