Palisades Viewpoint — a scenic viewpoint in Lewis County, Washington at about 677 m (2,221 ft) above sea level — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Mount Rainier National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 57 km (36 mi) ENE of Morton.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Palisades Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (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) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:13 AM | 54° NE | 9:04 PM | 307° NW | 67° | 15h 51m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:49 AM | 125° SE | 4:22 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 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 | 7:13 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:36 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:19 PM | 8h 58m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:31 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 20m |
| March | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:42 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:48 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 35m |
| May | 4:57 AM | 5:33 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:10 PM | 15h 01m |
| June | 4:33 AM | 5:13 AM | 6:00 AM | 8:15 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:42 PM | 15h 50m |
| July | 4:51 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:57 PM | 9:35 PM | 15h 29m |
| August | 5:32 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 13m |
| September | 6:14 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:51 PM | 10h 56m |
| November | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:56 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:07 PM | 9h 24m |
| December | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:36 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:55 PM | 8h 35m |
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 Palisades Viewpoint, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° 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 | 5:23 AM – 5:33 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:26 AM – 4:16 AM | 0.8 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:32 AM – 3:02 AM | 1.5 | 14° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:54 PM – 2:14 AM | 2.3 | 14° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:31 PM – 1:11 AM | 1.7 | 14° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:19 PM – 11:09 PM | 0.8 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:04 PM – 9:04 PM | 0.0 | 10° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.52 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ 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 29% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). 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 | 55 | 54 | 64 | 73 | 82 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 92 | 81 | 59 | 47 |
| Low °F | -12 | -9 | 0 | 14 | 24 | 30 | 34 | 37 | 27 | 14 | -11 | -5 |
| Precip. (in) | 6.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 6.7 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
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 Palisades Viewpoint, closest first.
Waterfall
Scenic ViewpointWaterfall
Hot Spring
Waterfall
Wilderness AreaWaterfall
CanyonWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- La Wis Wis Campground3.2 km (2.0 mi) · reservable
- Ohanapecosh Campground5.6 km (3.5 mi) · reservable
- Ohanapecosh Group Campground5.6 km (3.5 mi) · reservable
- White Pass Lake (Leech Lake) Campground13.2 km (8.2 mi)
- Dog Lake Campground14.7 km (9.1 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Palisades Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Palisades Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Palisades Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Palisades Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Palisades Viewpoint?
How far is Palisades 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.