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32.8036° N118.4254° W15 mBortle 4Los Angeles

China Point Light Photography Guide

Lighthouse in Los Angeles County, California · 15 m (49 ft)

  • Bortle 4 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–299°
  • Clearest: November
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Located in Los Angeles County, California, China Point Light is a lighthouse. It sits roughly 100 km (62 mi) SW of Dana Point.

Elevation
15 m
49 ft
Nearest town
Dana Point
100 km (62 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 4
Rural / suburban transition
Clearest month
November
46% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:49 PM
sunset 6:22 PM

Light at China Point Light

Live
Sunrise
7:02 AM
Sunset
6:16 PM
Golden hour AM
6:47 AM – 7:36 AM
Golden hour PM
5:42 PM – 6:31 PM
Blue hour AM
6:37 AM – 6:47 AM
Blue hour PM
6:31 PM – 6:41 PM
Full darkness
7:38 PM – 5:40 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:12 PM / 1:29 AM
Day length
11h 14m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Los Angeles. 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 China Point Light 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 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:58 AM90° E7:06 PM271° W57°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:47 AM61° ENE8:06 PM299° WNW81°14h 19m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:43 AM89° E6:52 PM271° W57°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:53 AM118° ESE4:52 PM242° WSW34°9h 59m

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
January6:30 AM6:57 AM7:34 AM4:34 PM5:11 PM5:37 PM10h 14m
February6:13 AM6:38 AM7:12 AM5:06 PM5:40 PM6:05 PM11h 02m
March6:40 AM7:05 AM7:37 AM6:30 PM7:02 PM7:27 PM11h 57m
April5:59 AM6:25 AM6:58 AM6:51 PM7:24 PM7:49 PM12h 59m
May5:28 AM5:56 AM6:30 AM7:11 PM7:46 PM8:13 PM13h 51m
June5:17 AM5:46 AM6:22 AM7:28 PM8:04 PM8:33 PM14h 18m
July5:29 AM5:57 AM6:33 AM7:28 PM8:04 PM8:31 PM14h 06m
August5:52 AM6:18 AM6:52 AM7:07 PM7:40 PM8:06 PM13h 22m
September6:14 AM6:38 AM7:11 AM6:29 PM7:01 PM7:26 PM12h 23m
October6:34 AM6:58 AM7:32 AM5:49 PM6:22 PM6:47 PM11h 23m
November5:59 AM6:25 AM7:00 AM4:18 PM4:54 PM5:20 PM10h 29m
December6:22 AM6:50 AM7:27 AM4:12 PM4:50 PM5:17 PM10h 00m

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 China Point Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
February4:23 AM – 5:13 AM0.817°SE → SE
March3:34 AM – 5:34 AM2.025°SE → SSE
April1:30 AM – 4:50 AM3.328°SE → S
May11:31 PM – 4:11 AM4.728°SE → SSW
June9:46 PM – 3:56 AM6.228°SE → SW
July9:42 PM – 2:32 AM4.828°SSE → SW
August9:10 PM – 12:30 AM3.328°S → SW
September8:25 PM – 10:35 PM2.225°SSW → SW
October7:44 PM – 8:34 PM0.817°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.15 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (78%). September is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F706972697068717575767268
Low °F495051495151555656545352
Precip. (in)1.61.91.00.50.20.40.10.10.20.50.71.7

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.

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 Wilson Cove, San Clemente Island, 26 km (16 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.

High & low tides — next 3 days

NOAA

Loading predictions…

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of China Point Light, closest first.

Lighthouse
Pyramid Head Light7.0 km away · Los Angeles County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph China Point Light?
November 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 China Point Light?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:49 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:22 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:32 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at China Point Light?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from China Point Light?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at China Point Light?
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 China Point Light from Dana Point?
About 100 km (62 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.