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34.3076° N114.1355° WBortle 3Phoenix

Berwick Lighthouse Photography Guide

Lighthouse in Mohave County, Arizona

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: June
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Berwick Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Mohave County, Arizona. It sits roughly 15.6 km (9.7 mi) NNE of Cienega Springs.

Nearest town
Cienega Springs
15.6 km (9.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
June
16% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:30 PM
sunset 6:03 PM

Light at Berwick Lighthouse

Live
Sunrise
6:47 AM
Sunset
5:57 PM
Golden hour AM
6:31 AM – 7:21 AM
Golden hour PM
5:23 PM – 6:13 PM
Blue hour AM
6:21 AM – 6:31 AM
Blue hour PM
6:13 PM – 6:23 PM
Full darkness
7:21 PM – 5:24 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
2:57 PM / 1:09 AM
Day length
11h 11m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Phoenix. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Berwick Lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:41 AM90° E6:49 PM271° W56°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:26 AM61° ENE7:53 PM300° WNW79°14h 27m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:25 AM89° E6:35 PM271° W56°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:40 AM118° ESE5:31 PM242° WSW32°9h 52m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:16 AM7:43 AM8:21 AM5:13 PM5:50 PM6:17 PM10h 07m
February6:57 AM7:23 AM7:57 AM5:46 PM6:21 PM6:46 PM10h 58m
March6:23 AM6:48 AM7:21 AM6:12 PM6:45 PM7:10 PM11h 57m
April5:40 AM6:06 AM6:40 AM6:35 PM7:08 PM7:34 PM13h 03m
May5:08 AM5:35 AM6:11 AM6:57 PM7:32 PM8:00 PM13h 57m
June4:56 AM5:25 AM6:02 AM7:14 PM7:51 PM8:20 PM14h 26m
July5:08 AM5:36 AM6:13 AM7:14 PM7:50 PM8:19 PM14h 14m
August5:32 AM5:59 AM6:33 AM6:51 PM7:25 PM7:52 PM13h 27m
September5:55 AM6:21 AM6:54 AM6:12 PM6:45 PM7:10 PM12h 24m
October6:17 AM6:42 AM7:16 AM5:30 PM6:03 PM6:29 PM11h 21m
November6:44 AM7:11 AM7:47 AM4:57 PM5:34 PM6:00 PM10h 23m
December7:08 AM7:36 AM8:15 AM4:50 PM5:29 PM5:57 PM9h 53m

Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Berwick Lighthouse, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:15 AM – 5:55 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:29 AM – 5:19 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April1:27 AM – 4:27 AM3.027°SE → S
May11:30 PM – 3:50 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June9:36 PM – 3:36 AM6.027°SE → SW
July9:32 PM – 2:12 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August8:57 PM – 12:07 AM3.227°S → SW
September8:10 PM – 10:10 PM2.024°SSW → SW
October7:27 PM – 8:07 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.66 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 16% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (41%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F8788971031111201211181161069482
Low °F242332374755676553372826
Precip. (in)0.81.00.50.20.10.00.70.80.60.50.60.7

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.

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.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Berwick Lighthouse, closest first.

Lighthouse
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse1.1 km away · Mohave County
Cattail Cove State ParkState Park
Cattail Cove State Park5.7 km away · Mohave County
Buckskin Mountain State ParkState Park
Buckskin Mountain State Park6.1 km away · San Bernardino County
Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse9.2 km away · Mohave County
Bill Williams River National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge9.3 km away · Mohave County
Lighthouse
Grays Harbor Lighthouse16 km away · San Bernardino County
Scenic Viewpoint
Pilot Rock18 km away · Mohave County
Lighthouse
Umpqua River Lighthouse20 km away · San Bernardino County
Lighthouse
Pigeon Point Lighthouse21 km away · San Bernardino County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Berwick Lighthouse?
June has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
What time is golden hour at Berwick Lighthouse?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:30 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:03 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:16 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Berwick Lighthouse?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Berwick Lighthouse?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Berwick Lighthouse?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Berwick Lighthouse from Cienega Springs?
About 15.6 km (9.7 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.