Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks — a beach in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 87 km (54 mi) WNW of Juneau.
From the National Park Service
Take a close look at the beach rocks and you'll notice they have lichen growing on them. In the classic story of plant succession, lichen spores carried on the wind are among the first life forms to return to the barren landscape after the glacier ice melts away. Landing on rocks, the lichen spores anchored themselves to the rock, and began to break down the rock surface making it possible for mosses to find purchase. Moss further breaks down the rock into soil making it possible for flowering plants and trees to move in. Alder helps put nitrogen into the soil making it possible for bigger trees to grow, like quick growing willows and cottonwoods. Later, spruce seeds germinate in the alder-leaf litter and, once they emerge into sunlight, they also grow rapidly. The spruce trees grow to great heights and will eventually crowd out the other trees. This process of each organism preparing the land for the one that follows is called succession. However, it is not always as systematic as that. If a spore or seed arrives in an area and finds what it needs to live, it will grow.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 39° (NE) at the June solstice and 138° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 322° (NW) in June to 223° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 55° in summer but only 8° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:06 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 31° | 12h 12m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 3:56 AM | 39° NE | 10:16 PM | 322° NW | 55° | 18h 19m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:49 AM | 88° E | 7:05 PM | 272° W | 32° | 12h 16m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:53 AM | 138° SE | 3:12 PM | 223° SW | 8° | 6h 20m |
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
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:51 AM | 8:41 AM | 10:03 AM | 2:24 PM | 3:47 PM | 4:36 PM | 7h 06m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:37 AM | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:42 PM | 9h 23m |
| March | 6:41 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:13 AM | 6:13 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:46 PM | 11h 46m |
| April | 5:08 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:22 PM | 8:17 PM | 9:00 PM | 14h 25m |
| May | 3:40 AM | 4:37 AM | 5:40 AM | 8:22 PM | 9:25 PM | 10:22 PM | 16h 48m |
| June | 2:37 AM | 3:57 AM | 5:09 AM | 9:01 PM | 10:13 PM | 11:32 PM | 18h 17m |
| July | 3:15 AM | 4:22 AM | 5:29 AM | 8:51 PM | 9:59 PM | 11:06 PM | 17h 37m |
| August | 4:38 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:40 PM | 15h 26m |
| September | 5:54 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:25 PM | 8:06 PM | 12h 51m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:36 AM | 5:03 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:40 PM | 10h 19m |
| November | 7:07 AM | 7:54 AM | 9:06 AM | 2:32 PM | 3:45 PM | 4:31 PM | 7h 51m |
| December | 7:55 AM | 8:48 AM | 10:26 AM | 1:33 PM | 3:11 PM | 4:04 PM | 6h 23m |
Local time (America/Juneau), 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
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -11° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -21° | — |
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 0.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 74% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (81%). July is the warmest month and January 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 | 43 | 41 | 51 | 58 | 71 | 77 | 80 | 80 | 71 | 60 | 49 | 44 |
| Low °F | -8 | -5 | -3 | 10 | 25 | 38 | 43 | 43 | 35 | 17 | -2 | -6 |
| Precip. (in) | 12.2 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 10.3 | 13.3 | 14.0 | 12.3 | 12.9 |
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 beach
- Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
- Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.
Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. 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.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay, 419 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks?
What time is golden hour at Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks?
How far is Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks from Juneau?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.