Punta Gorda Light is a lighthouse in Humboldt County, California. It is part of King Range National Conservation Area. The nearest town is Rio Dell, about 35 km (21 mi) away (Punta Gorda Light lies SW of town). Its recorded tower height is about 8 m (26 ft). It dates from 1912. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Punta Gorda Lighthouse is a lighthouse in the United States, 12 miles (19 km) south of Cape Mendocino, California, within Humboldt County. Access is via a short hike from the end of a 4WD road, or a slightly longer hike along the beach southward from the camping area at the mouth of the Mattole River. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.From the Wikipedia article “Punta Gorda Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Punta Gorda Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:22 AM | 90° E | 7:30 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 58° ENE | 8:51 PM | 302° WNW | 73° | 15h 03m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:06 AM | 89° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 121° ESE | 4:55 PM | 240° WSW | 26° | 9h 18m |
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 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:20 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:46 PM | 9h 37m |
| February | 6:44 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 42m |
| March | 7:03 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:06 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:52 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 16m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:15 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:29 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:22 PM | 15h 01m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 46m |
| August | 6:00 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:55 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:06 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:06 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:31 PM | 9h 58m |
| December | 7:03 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:24 PM | 9h 19m |
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 Punta Gorda Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:34 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:45 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.2 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:33 AM – 4:53 AM | 2.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:38 AM – 4:08 AM | 3.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:53 PM – 3:43 AM | 4.8 | 21° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:44 PM – 2:14 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:58 PM – 12:18 AM | 2.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:00 PM – 10:10 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:09 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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 ≈ 21.89 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 61% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (78%). 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 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 72 | 78 | 82 | 76 | 75 | 88 | 79 | 67 | 62 |
| Low °F | 35 | 37 | 39 | 40 | 43 | 47 | 49 | 51 | 48 | 44 | 39 | 35 |
| Precip. (in) | 7.5 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 5.6 | 10.8 |
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.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Punta Gorda Light, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Punta Gorda Light?
What time is golden hour at Punta Gorda Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Punta Gorda Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Punta Gorda Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Punta Gorda Light?
How far is Punta Gorda Light from Rio Dell?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, Wikipedia. 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.