Finding the Perfect Viewpoint with CalTopo
For many, summertime means a summit hang, a serene backcountry campsite, or an epic viewpoint. I love watching the sun set over my favorite peaks, snapping pictures as the light changes. The pursuit of great views – “viewbagging” or “viewmaxxing” – is one of my favorite activities in the mountains.
It’s not always easy to find the viewpoint you are looking for. Topography and sun angles can be challenging to predict. Fortunately, CalTopo has some excellent tools to assist in planning for an epic viewpoint.
Simulated View
One of the coolest features of CalTopo (only available on the web) is the “Simulated View”. This generated image shows you exactly what you will see from a specific point on the map – with labeled peaks near and distant.
To access this feature, right click or control click a spot on the map and select “Point info”. In the modal that appears, then select “Simulated view” in the upper right. A new tab should open. Generating the view will take a few seconds.
Here is an example application: can we see Eldorado Peak from Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades? Looking at a regular topo map, the answer isn’t obvious; both Hidden Lake Peak and the Triad are taller than the lookout, and directly in line with Eldorado Peak. But with the simulated view, the answer becomes very clear – yes!
Simulated view to the east from Hidden Lake Lookout.
There are multiple options in the upper right. I like the “wireframe imagery” selection, which outlines the profile of the mountains, along with applying the satellite imagery. I also usually select “25 ft”, the elevation above the ground used in the rendering.
Viewshed Layer
While Simulated View allows you to tell which mountains are visible from a single point, CalTopo has another neat tool that provides the opposite information – all the places where a point is visible. This is called the “Viewshed Layer”.
To access this layer, right click on a point and select “Viewshed Layer”. Name it based on where the point is. Once you press “save” you should see a new layer appear on the map. Shaded areas are places where that point is visible.
When backpacking, I often want to camp in a spot with a particular view. For example, while camping in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, I would like a view of Glacier Peak. So I can create a custom viewshed layer to see where the mountain is visible from.
While the red campsite has a water source, it doesn’t have a Glacier Peak view. The blue and green options would.
Gorgeous sunset views of Glacier Peak.
You can even overlay multiple viewshed layers. In the PNW, a “five volcano” view is prized – Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, Glacier, and Baker. This view is quite challenging because of how St. Helens or Adams is blocked by Rainier from many directions. But by creating a viewshed for each peak, you can figure out which locations fit the bill. Toggle the different viewshed layers on and off in the lower right panel if you are struggling to differentiate between the overlaid colors.
One of the best locations for a five volcano view is actually the far eastern Central Cascades – the Stuart Range.
Sun Exposure
As a photographer, golden hour is my favorite time of day. I love settling in to camp, eating dinner, and basking in the sunset as the light changes on the peaks around me. I find that I have the most photo opportunities if I have direct sunlight all the way until sunset. Plus, the sun’s rays feel good on a cool evening.
The CalTopo Sun Exposure layer is helpful for determining which spots will have evening and/or morning light. While a peak obviously gets late light, most camp sites are lower down. Slight differences in aspect can mean the difference between entering the shade at 6 PM and having light until 9 PM.
To use this layer, select “Sun Exposure” on the right side layer panel. I typically select about an hour before sunset to see which areas have evening light.
The blue campsite has sunlight at 8PM, while the red one is in the shade. One campsite definitely seems more appealing to hang out at!
If in pursuit of alpenglow, you also should care which aspects of peaks have direct sunlight at sunrise or sunset.
Because the sun rises to the north of due east around the summer solstice, the north sides of mountains actually get first light, as opposed to south sides in the winter.
Morning alpenglow on Mt. Baker from the east.
To Greater Heights
The mountains are inspiring with their beauty and vastness. I love to use CalTopo to find a new, mesmerizing viewpoint. There are always more vantages to explore, and perspectives to take in the great outdoors.
Author Kyle McCrohan is a CalTopo Educational Ambassador as well as an avid backcountry skier, climber, and storyteller at climberkyle.com.
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