Located in San Juan County, Washington, 4th of July Beach is a beach. It lies in or next to San Juan Island National Historical Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Friday Harbor, about 7.4 km (4.6 mi) away (4th of July Beach lies S of town).
From the National Park Service
This beach got its name when Paul K. Hubbs Jr. flew a giant American flag there on the Fourth of July, 1859. Because of the ongoing Pig War , the American tax collector wished to annoy the English with this patriotic display. Hubbs, who informed Captain George Pickett about Charles Griffin and Lyman Cutlar’s pig related dispute, was an important figure in the events leading up to the Pig War. Fourth of July Beach is a lovely stretch of pebbly sand facing Griffin Bay. This area, while less crowded than South Beach , is still a popular place to relax and have a picnic. Fires are not allowed on this beach. Remember to practice Leave No Trace ! There’s plenty of activity here too! The mowed grass field is perfect for playing sports and other games. Berry lovers: keep an eye out for ripe strawberries in July and blackberries in August! You can launch kayaks from the shore. Its sheltered waters are far more tranquil than the wilder, unprotected coast at South Beach. However, swimming is still discouraged due to strong currents. Pets can enjoy the beach with you if they are on leash . Access the Old Town Lagoon Beach Walk by following the beach access trail East. This adventure will lead you along the shoreline, past Jakle’s (saltwater) Lagoon, and to the historical site of San Juan Town. Reminder that it is illegal to take any natural or archaeological material from the park. To get to Fourth of July Beach from Friday Harbor: take Spring Street from town, then a left onto Mullis Road. This will turn into Cattle Point Road, and the exit to Fourth of July Beach will be on your left. You’ve gone too far if you reach South Beach or the Jakle’s Lagoon Trailhead.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At 4th of July Beach the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 234° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:16 AM | 89° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 41° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:11 AM | 52° NE | 9:18 PM | 308° NW | 65° | 16h 07m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:12 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:02 AM | 126° SE | 4:20 PM | 234° SW | 18° | 8h 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 | 7:24 AM | 7:59 AM | 8:51 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:20 PM | 8h 45m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:06 PM | 10h 14m |
| March | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 51m |
| April | 5:49 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 41m |
| May | 4:55 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:18 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:24 PM | 15h 14m |
| June | 4:29 AM | 5:11 AM | 6:00 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:16 PM | 9:58 PM | 16h 06m |
| July | 4:47 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:15 AM | 8:22 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:50 PM | 15h 43m |
| August | 5:32 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 22m |
| September | 6:18 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:58 PM | 12h 37m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:15 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:56 PM | 10h 52m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:10 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:09 PM | 9h 14m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:52 AM | 3:24 PM | 4:18 PM | 4:55 PM | 8h 20m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 4th of July Beach, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from May through July. May gives the longest window (about 1.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| April | 4:01 AM – 4:21 AM | 0.3 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:56 AM – 2:56 AM | 1.0 | 12° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:50 AM – 1:30 AM | 0.7 | 13° | S → S |
| July | 12:03 AM – 12:43 AM | 0.7 | 12° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:36 PM – 10:46 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.49 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (83%). August is the warmest month and December 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 | 53 | 55 | 65 | 76 | 81 | 85 | 93 | 87 | 82 | 70 | 60 | 56 |
| Low °F | 14 | 19 | 24 | 32 | 36 | 43 | 47 | 47 | 42 | 32 | 15 | 14 |
| Precip. (in) | 7.3 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 5.1 | 7.7 | 6.8 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Kanaka Bay, San Juan Island, 6.1 km (3.8 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of 4th of July Beach, closest first.
Rock Formation
Sand Dunes
Lighthouse
Beach
State ParkLighthouse
State Park
Lighthouse
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph 4th of July Beach?
What time is golden hour at 4th of July Beach?
Where does the sun rise and set at 4th of July Beach?
Can you see the Milky Way from 4th of July Beach?
Do you need a permit to photograph at 4th of July Beach?
How far is 4th of July Beach from Friday Harbor?
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.