Beach Access Ramp 27 — a beach in Dare County, North Carolina — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 23 km (14 mi) NNE of Buxton.
From the National Park Service
Ramps are subject to closure. For the most current status of beach access ramps, go to https://go.nps.gov/beachaccess .
Beach Access Ramp 27 provides year-round off-road vehicle and pedestrian access to the beaches where a famous US Life-Saving Service rescue was conducted. A dedicated off-road vehicle ramp and a pedestrian boardwalk lead out to the beach.
Off-road vehicle and pedestrian access to the beach is provided north of the ramp, while pedestrian-only access to the beach is provided south of the ramp. The parking lot has seventeen normal-sized and one accessible spaces. Rescue from the Priscilla Late night patrols along the beach just across this dune were usually dark, but it was nearly pitch-black for US Life-Saving Service Surfman Rasmus S. Midgett on August 17, 1899. A hurricane was driving winds and water over the island, and he was alone on patrol when he saw the Priscilla , a 643-ton ship, grounded 100 yards off the beach.
The cries of the crew forced him to make a hard choice: take three hours to get help from the Gull Shores US Life-Saving Station or attempt a solo rescue now. Midgett, one of a long line of the local surfmen, chose the latter. Seven times he waded to the ship through crashing waves, and seven men he brought to safety, one at a time.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Beach Access Ramp 27 the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:48 AM | 60° ENE | 8:21 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 33m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:51 AM | 89° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:08 AM | 119° ESE | 4:53 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 45m |
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 | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:13 PM | 5:40 PM | 10h 01m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:44 PM | 6:10 PM | 10h 55m |
| March | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:35 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:28 PM | 14h 02m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 32m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 20m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 31m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:36 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:43 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:28 PM | 6:54 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:11 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:20 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:24 PM | 10h 19m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:20 PM | 9h 47m |
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 Beach Access Ramp 27, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:50 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:55 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:55 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:00 AM – 4:10 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:08 PM – 3:58 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:03 PM – 2:33 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:26 PM – 12:26 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:27 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:23 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.88 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 53% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (74%). 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 | 70 | 69 | 70 | 76 | 84 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 87 | 83 | 75 | 71 |
| Low °F | 25 | 22 | 32 | 43 | 49 | 63 | 70 | 71 | 62 | 47 | 38 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.5 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
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
- 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.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Peter's Ditch, 13.5 km (8.4 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Beach Access Ramp 27, closest first.
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Lighthouse
LighthouseCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Beach Access Ramp 27?
What time is golden hour at Beach Access Ramp 27?
Where does the sun rise and set at Beach Access Ramp 27?
Can you see the Milky Way from Beach Access Ramp 27?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Beach Access Ramp 27?
How far is Beach Access Ramp 27 from Buxton?
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.