Adak Hot Springs — a hot spring in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska — is a classic subject for landscape photographers.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Adak Hot Springs the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 49° (NE) at the June solstice and 129° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 312° (NW) in June to 231° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 61° in summer but only 15° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 8:49 AM | 89° E | 9:00 PM | 271° W | 38° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:27 AM | 49° NE | 11:11 PM | 312° NW | 61° | 16h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 8:34 AM | 89° E | 8:46 PM | 272° W | 38° | 12h 13m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 9:53 AM | 129° SE | 5:38 PM | 231° SW | 15° | 7h 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
Steam is most visible on cold mornings; backlight from a low sun makes rising steam glow.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:09 AM | 9:48 AM | 10:46 AM | 5:07 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:44 PM | 8h 17m |
| February | 8:27 AM | 9:02 AM | 9:51 AM | 6:12 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:36 PM | 9h 59m |
| March | 8:27 AM | 9:01 AM | 9:46 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:25 PM | 11h 50m |
| April | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:35 AM | 8:59 PM | 9:44 PM | 10:20 PM | 13h 54m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:44 AM | 9:44 PM | 10:34 PM | 11:17 PM | 15h 41m |
| June | 5:38 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:22 AM | 10:14 PM | 11:09 PM | 11:57 PM | 16h 42m |
| July | 6:00 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:38 AM | 10:08 PM | 11:01 PM | 11:46 PM | 16h 15m |
| August | 6:54 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:19 AM | 9:25 PM | 10:12 PM | 10:50 PM | 14h 40m |
| September | 7:48 AM | 8:22 AM | 9:07 AM | 8:18 PM | 9:03 PM | 9:37 PM | 12h 41m |
| October | 8:38 AM | 9:12 AM | 9:59 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:28 PM | 10h 42m |
| November | 8:30 AM | 9:08 AM | 10:02 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:57 PM | 6:34 PM | 8h 49m |
| December | 9:08 AM | 9:49 AM | 10:52 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:17 PM | 7h 47m |
Local time (America/Adak), 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
At this latitude the summer nights are too short or too bright for the Milky Way core to stand high in true darkness; aim for star trails or the aurora.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| June | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| July | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -7° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.95 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 79% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (95%). 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 | 45 | 45 | 43 | 45 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 57 | 56 | 54 | 49 | 46 |
| Low °F | 27 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 32 | 38 | 41 | 44 | 42 | 37 | 33 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 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 hot spring
- Keep to boardwalks and marked paths — crusts around thermal features can be thin and the water dangerously hot.
- A polarizer brings out the colors of mineral terraces and microbial mats.
- Respect bathers' privacy: ask before including people at soaking pools.
- Wind direction determines where steam drifts; shoot from the upwind side to see the pool.
- Condensation forms quickly on lenses; let gear acclimate and carry a cloth.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Winter gives the most dramatic steam; some primitive springs are only accessible in summer.
Suggested gear: Circular polarizer, Lens cloth, Telephoto for distant pools. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Adak Hot Springs, closest first.
Hot Spring
Mountain Peak
Lake
Scenic Viewpoint
Mountain PeakScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Adak Hot Springs?
What time is golden hour at Adak Hot Springs?
Where does the sun rise and set at Adak Hot Springs?
Can you see the Milky Way from Adak Hot Springs?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Adak Hot Springs?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.