Watchman Overlook
Watchman Overlook sits at 4,342 feet on the Zion Park Scenic Byway, at mile 18 of 54. The land drops 410 feet within 600 meters of the pullout, and the view faces 270 degrees, directly toward the sunset. Zion National Park is visible to the west at half a mile, with Moquitch Hill and Springdale Town Park to the west-southwest within about a mile. To the west-northwest, First Mary, Second Mary, and The West Temple rise in sequence between 1.6 and 2.4 miles out, with elevations climbing from 5,972 to 7,818 feet. Mount Kinesava stands west at 2.9 miles and 7,214 feet. Farther out, Rimrock Spring appears southwest at 4.2 miles, and Wire Valley Knoll extends the view to 6.0 miles in the same direction. Because the overlook faces due sunset with no angular offset, this is a direct west-facing stop for evening light. The nearest towns are Washington and St. George, both about 30 miles west, and Cedar City, 33.3 miles north. The next stop along the byway is Poverty Gulch Rim Overlook.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Zion National Park3,923 ftwest · 0.5 mi
- Moquitch Hill4,021 ftwest-southwest · 1.0 mi
- Springdale Town Park3,995 ftwest-southwest · 1.1 mi
- First Mary5,972 ftwest-northwest · 1.6 mi
- Second Mary6,289 ftwest-northwest · 1.8 mi
- The West Temple7,818 ftwest-northwest · 2.4 mi
- Mount Kinesava7,214 ftwest · 2.9 mi
- Rimrock Spring4,169 ftsouthwest · 4.2 mi
- Wire valley Knoll4,496 ftsouthwest · 6.0 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:36 | 19:44 | 19:10 |
| June solstice | 06:13 | 20:56 | 20:17 |
| September equinox | 07:20 | 19:30 | 18:56 |
| December solstice | 07:43 | 17:19 | 16:38 |
Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
Mile 18 of 54 along Zion Park Scenic Byway.
- Washington29.6 mi west
- Cedar City33.3 mi north
- St. George33.9 mi west
Take the scenic way to Watchman Overlook.
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How high is Watchman Overlook?
Watchman Overlook sits at about 4,342 feet (1,324 m).
What can you see from Watchman Overlook?
From Watchman Overlook: Zion National Park (W, 0.5 mi); Moquitch Hill (WSW, 1.0 mi); Springdale Town Park (WSW, 1.1 mi); First Mary (WNW, 1.6 mi).
Is Watchman Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Watchman Overlook toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Watchman Overlook?
Washington, 30 miles W of Watchman Overlook.
What is the next lookout after Watchman Overlook?
Poverty Gulch Rim Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Watchman Overlook.
Drive to Watchman Overlook with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Zion National Park · 8 mi
- Mount Carmel Junction · 16 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Watchman Overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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