Located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Boca Chita Key Lighthouse is a lighthouse. It lies in or next to Biscayne National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 15.9 km (9.9 mi) ESE of Lakes by the Bay. Its recorded tower height is about 65 m (213 ft). It dates from 1930.
Wikidata describes it as: “lighthouse in Florida, United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Boca Chita Key Lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 64° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 88° in summer but only 41° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:26 AM | 90° E | 7:32 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:31 AM | 64° ENE | 8:15 PM | 297° WNW | 88° | 13h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 65° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:03 AM | 116° ESE | 5:36 PM | 244° WSW | 41° | 10h 33m |
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 | 6:45 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 43m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 18m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 45m |
| May | 6:12 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 23m |
| June | 6:05 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 43m |
| July | 6:14 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 35m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:26 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 02m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 35m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 54m |
| December | 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:59 PM | 10h 33m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Boca Chita Key Lighthouse, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 36° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban 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 | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:23 AM – 5:33 AM | 1.2 | 22° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:37 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.5 | 32° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:33 AM – 5:33 AM | 4.0 | 36° | SE → S |
| May | 11:35 PM – 5:05 AM | 5.5 | 36° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:44 PM – 4:54 AM | 7.2 | 36° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:43 PM – 3:33 AM | 5.8 | 36° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:19 PM – 1:29 AM | 4.2 | 36° | S → SW |
| September | 8:43 PM – 11:23 PM | 2.7 | 33° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:11 PM – 9:31 PM | 1.3 | 23° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
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 ≈ 19.84 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 (69%). 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 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 86 | 82 |
| Low °F | 37 | 43 | 48 | 58 | 67 | 76 | 78 | 79 | 73 | 57 | 53 | 41 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
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.
- 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.
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 Boca Chita Key, Biscayne Bay, 190 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Boca Chita Key Lighthouse, closest first.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
State Park
Lighthouse
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Beach
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Boca Chita Key Lighthouse?
What time is golden hour at Boca Chita Key Lighthouse?
Where does the sun rise and set at Boca Chita Key Lighthouse?
Can you see the Milky Way from Boca Chita Key Lighthouse?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Boca Chita Key Lighthouse?
How far is Boca Chita Key Lighthouse from Lakes by the Bay?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.