Walton Lighthouse — a lighthouse in Santa Cruz County, California — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 900 m SSW of Twin Lakes.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Walton Lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:12 AM | 90° E | 7:20 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 60° ENE | 8:32 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 42m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:18 AM | 119° ESE | 4:56 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 37m |
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 | 6:53 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 54m |
| February | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 51m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:42 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:39 PM | 14h 09m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 41m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 27m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 35m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:43 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:33 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:27 PM | 10h 12m |
| December | 6:46 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 38m |
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 Walton Lighthouse, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.3 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:12 AM – 5:42 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:05 AM – 4:55 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:13 AM – 4:13 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:22 PM – 3:52 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:16 PM – 2:26 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:37 PM – 12:27 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 8:45 PM – 10:25 PM | 1.7 | 21° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:59 PM – 8:29 PM | 0.5 | 14° | 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.34 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 53% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (77%). September is the warmest month and April 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 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 65 | 64 | 69 | 66 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 64 | 63 |
| Low °F | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 47 | 46 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 3.4 |
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.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, 1.3 km (0.8 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Walton Lighthouse, closest first.
Lighthouse
State Park
Lighthouse
State Park
Scenic Viewpoint
Covered Bridge
State Park
Botanical Garden
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Walton Lighthouse?
What time is golden hour at Walton Lighthouse?
Where does the sun rise and set at Walton Lighthouse?
Can you see the Milky Way from Walton Lighthouse?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Walton Lighthouse?
How far is Walton Lighthouse from Twin Lakes?
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.