Located in Brevard County, Florida, Klondike Beach is a beach. It lies in or next to Canaveral National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 16.6 km (10.3 mi) ENE of Mims.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Klondike Beach the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 85° in summer but only 38° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:28 AM | 90° E | 7:35 PM | 271° W | 61° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:26 AM | 63° ENE | 8:25 PM | 298° WNW | 85° | 13h 59m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:12 AM | 89° E | 7:21 PM | 271° W | 62° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:12 AM | 117° ESE | 5:31 PM | 244° WSW | 38° | 10h 18m |
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 | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 31m |
| February | 6:38 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 11m |
| March | 7:10 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:05 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:55 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:13 PM | 12h 51m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 35m |
| June | 5:58 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:50 PM | 13h 58m |
| July | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:50 PM | 13h 48m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 11m |
| September | 6:45 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:29 PM | 7:53 PM | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 30m |
| November | 6:22 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:20 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 44m |
| December | 6:43 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:54 PM | 10h 19m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Klondike Beach, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:33 AM – 5:33 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:50 AM – 6:10 AM | 2.3 | 29° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:41 AM – 5:31 AM | 3.8 | 32° | SE → S |
| May | 11:47 PM – 4:57 AM | 5.2 | 32° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:58 PM – 4:48 AM | 6.8 | 32° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:56 PM – 3:26 AM | 5.5 | 32° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:29 PM – 1:19 AM | 3.8 | 32° | S → SW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 11:19 PM | 2.5 | 29° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:13 PM – 9:23 PM | 1.2 | 21° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.07 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (58%). August 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 | 82 | 84 | 87 | 89 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 93 | 91 | 89 | 85 | 82 |
| Low °F | 38 | 39 | 45 | 53 | 61 | 71 | 74 | 74 | 71 | 52 | 49 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
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 Turtle Mound, Mosquito Lagoon, 24 km (15 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Klondike Beach, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Middle Dredge Campsite18.2 km (11.3 mi)
- Canaveral National Seashore Permits24 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Klondike Beach?
What time is golden hour at Klondike Beach?
Where does the sun rise and set at Klondike Beach?
Can you see the Milky Way from Klondike Beach?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Klondike Beach?
How far is Klondike Beach from Mims?
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.