Shoe Island Light — a lighthouse in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Ketchikan, about 82 km (51 mi) away (Shoe Island Light lies WSW of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Shoe Island Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 45° (NE) at the June solstice and 132° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 316° (NW) in June to 228° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 58° in summer but only 12° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 35° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:13 AM | 45° NE | 9:34 PM | 316° NW | 58° | 17h 22m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:37 AM | 89° E | 6:52 PM | 272° W | 35° | 12h 14m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:15 AM | 132° SE | 3:25 PM | 228° SW | 12° | 7h 11m |
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
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 AM | 8:07 AM | 9:14 AM | 2:49 PM | 3:55 PM | 4:38 PM | 7h 48m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 44m |
| March | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:31 PM | 11h 48m |
| April | 5:09 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 07m |
| May | 3:57 AM | 4:44 AM | 5:39 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:40 PM | 16h 08m |
| June | 3:15 AM | 4:13 AM | 5:14 AM | 8:31 PM | 9:32 PM | 10:30 PM | 17h 20m |
| July | 3:41 AM | 4:33 AM | 5:32 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:22 PM | 10:14 PM | 16h 48m |
| August | 4:45 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:26 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 59m |
| September | 5:48 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:22 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 45m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:30 PM | 10h 32m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:25 AM | 2:48 PM | 3:49 PM | 4:30 PM | 8h 25m |
| December | 7:25 AM | 8:10 AM | 9:24 AM | 2:10 PM | 3:24 PM | 4:09 PM | 7h 13m |
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
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 | — | -9° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| 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 2.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 80% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (90%). August is the warmest month and February 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 | 51 | 50 | 53 | 56 | 62 | 71 | 67 | 69 | 64 | 58 | 55 | 51 |
| Low °F | 14 | 18 | 18 | 35 | 39 | 41 | 49 | 51 | 47 | 37 | 20 | 22 |
| Precip. (in) | 8.5 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.6 |
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 lighthouse
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
- Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Kasook Inlet, Sukkwan Island, 7.7 km (4.8 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Shoe Island Light, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Shoe Island Light?
What time is golden hour at Shoe Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Shoe Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Shoe Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Shoe Island Light?
How far is Shoe Island Light from Ketchikan?
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.