Sitka Lighthouse — a lighthouse in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Sitka National Historical Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 1.9 km (1.2 mi) S of Sitka.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Sitka Lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 41° (NE) at the June solstice and 135° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 319° (NW) in June to 225° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 56° in summer but only 10° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 33° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:07 AM | 41° NE | 10:01 PM | 319° NW | 56° | 17h 54m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 88° E | 7:02 PM | 272° W | 33° | 12h 15m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:39 AM | 135° SE | 3:21 PM | 225° SW | 10° | 6h 42m |
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 | 7:43 AM | 8:29 AM | 9:44 AM | 2:39 PM | 3:54 PM | 4:40 PM | 7h 24m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:28 AM | 4:05 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:42 PM | 9h 32m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:14 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 47m |
| April | 5:12 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:19 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:52 PM | 14h 17m |
| May | 3:50 AM | 4:43 AM | 5:43 AM | 8:15 PM | 9:14 PM | 10:07 PM | 16h 31m |
| June | 2:59 AM | 4:07 AM | 5:14 AM | 8:51 PM | 9:58 PM | 11:06 PM | 17h 51m |
| July | 3:30 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:33 AM | 8:42 PM | 9:46 PM | 10:46 PM | 17h 16m |
| August | 4:44 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:29 PM | 15h 14m |
| September | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:22 PM | 8:00 PM | 12h 49m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:29 AM | 5:07 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 25m |
| November | 7:00 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:51 AM | 2:43 PM | 3:50 PM | 4:34 PM | 8h 06m |
| December | 7:45 AM | 8:35 AM | 10:00 AM | 1:54 PM | 3:20 PM | 4:09 PM | 6h 45m |
Local time (America/Sitka), 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
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -9° | — |
| 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.02 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 1.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show February as the clearest month (about 74% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (84%). 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 | 50 | 46 | 62 | 68 | 73 | 83 | 81 | 80 | 72 | 60 | 51 | 48 |
| Low °F | -5 | -1 | -3 | 16 | 27 | 37 | 42 | 42 | 34 | 20 | -1 | 0 |
| Precip. (in) | 8.3 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 7.5 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 9.6 | 9.0 |
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
- 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.
- Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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.
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 Sitka, 1.8 km (1.1 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Sitka Lighthouse, closest first.
State Park
Lake
Lighthouse
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Mountain Peak
WaterfallWaterfall
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Samsing Cove Cabin6.3 km (3.9 mi) · reservable
- Starrigavan Creek Cabin10.6 km (6.6 mi) · reservable
- Starrigavan Campground And Day Use10.9 km (6.8 mi) · reservable
- Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka14.0 km (8.7 mi) · reservable
- Freds Creek Cabin16.9 km (10.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sitka Lighthouse?
What time is golden hour at Sitka Lighthouse?
Where does the sun rise and set at Sitka Lighthouse?
Can you see the Milky Way from Sitka Lighthouse?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sitka Lighthouse?
How far is Sitka Lighthouse from Sitka?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors, 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.