Washburn Hot Springs Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Park County, Wyoming at about 2,612 m (8,570 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Yellowstone National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is West Yellowstone, about 53 km (33 mi) away (Washburn Hot Springs Overlook lies ENE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Washburn Hot Springs Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:26 AM | 90° E | 7:34 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:37 AM | 55° NE | 9:12 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 35m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:21 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:57 AM | 123° ESE | 4:44 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 47m |
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 | 7:24 AM | 7:56 AM | 8:43 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 11m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:05 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 27m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:14 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:57 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:20 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:37 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 49m |
| June | 4:59 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:21 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:47 PM | 15h 34m |
| July | 5:15 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:35 AM | 8:22 PM | 9:06 PM | 9:42 PM | 15h 15m |
| August | 5:53 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 05m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:08 PM | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:48 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:27 PM | 9h 35m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 7:53 AM | 8:42 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:16 PM | 8h 49m |
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 Washburn Hot Springs Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:26 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:24 AM – 4:44 AM | 1.3 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:22 AM – 3:42 AM | 2.3 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:41 PM – 3:01 AM | 3.3 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:25 PM – 1:45 AM | 2.3 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:24 PM – 11:44 PM | 1.3 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:15 PM – 9:45 PM | 0.5 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.94 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 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (77%). 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 | 33 | 32 | 51 | 64 | 73 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 82 | 72 | 53 | 33 |
| Low °F | -32 | -34 | -21 | -10 | 6 | 22 | 29 | 28 | 18 | -9 | -23 | -32 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
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
- 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.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Washburn Hot Springs Overlook, closest first.
Mountain Peak
Hot Spring
Mountain Pass
Mountain Peak
Fire Lookout
Mountain Peak
Canyon
Canyon
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Tower Fall Campground14.5 km (9.0 mi) · reservable
- Slough Creek Campground23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Indian Creek Campground (Wy)26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Mammoth Campground (Yellowstone)30 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Washburn Hot Springs Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Washburn Hot Springs Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Washburn Hot Springs Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Washburn Hot Springs Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Washburn Hot Springs Overlook?
How far is Washburn Hot Springs Overlook from West Yellowstone?
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.