Sunset Scout: where can I see the sunset?

Sunset Scout is an interactive map that shows where the sunset will actually be visible along the United States coastline. For any spot you tap, it works out whether the setting sun reaches you or is blocked by terrain, such as hills, headlands, and mountains between you and the horizon, so you can pick a viewpoint that genuinely catches the sunset.

Lit areas get an unobstructed view of the sunset; blocked areas sit in terrain shadow at sunset. Use it to plan where to watch the sunset near you, from beaches and clifftops to city overlooks.

Sunset Scout

Where you can watch the sun set into the ocean

sunset visible blocked by terrain

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Times in Pacific Standard Time.

Drag the sun to pick a date

Sunset Scout

Can you watch the sun set into the ocean?

From most of the coast, the answer is no. A hill, headland, or ridge blocks the horizon before the sun ever gets there. This map calculates the answer for every point along the US West Coast, for any day of the year.

White: You can see the sunset over the ocean horizon.
Black: Terrain gets in the way before the sun sets.
Tap anywhere for that spot's verdict, sunset time and direction.
Drag the sun along the bottom bar to change the date. The map moves with the season.

How the map works →