Fowey Rocks Light is a lighthouse in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It lies in or next to Biscayne National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Key Biscayne, about 13.2 km (8.2 mi) away (Fowey Rocks Light lies SSE of town). Its recorded tower height is about 34 m (112 ft). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fowey Rocks Light is located seven miles southeast of Cape Florida on Key Biscayne. The lighthouse was completed in 1878, replacing the Cape Florida Light. It was automated on May 7, 1975, and as of 2021 is still in operation. The structure is cast iron, with a screw-pile foundation, a platform and a skeletal tower. The light is 110 feet above the water. The tower framework is painted brown, while the dwelling and enclosed circular stair to the lantern are painted white. The original lens was a first-order drum Fresnel lens which stood about 12 feet (4 m) high and weighed about a ton (tonne). The light has a nominal range of 15 miles in the white sectors, and 10 miles in the red sectors. It serves as a maker for the entrance to the Hawk Channel passage through the Florida Keys. Fowey Rocks are named after the Royal Navy frigate HMS Fowey which was wrecked on a different reef to the...From the Wikipedia article “Fowey Rocks Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Fowey Rocks Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (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) | 7:25 AM | 90° E | 7:32 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:31 AM | 63° ENE | 8:15 PM | 297° WNW | 88° | 13h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 65° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:03 AM | 116° ESE | 5:35 PM | 244° WSW | 41° | 10h 32m |
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 | 6:44 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 43m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 18m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 45m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 23m |
| June | 6:04 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 44m |
| July | 6:14 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 35m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:26 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 03m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 6:56 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 35m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 54m |
| December | 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 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 Fowey Rocks Light, 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 | 4:22 AM – 5:32 AM | 1.2 | 22° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:36 AM – 6:06 AM | 2.5 | 32° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 4.0 | 36° | SE → S |
| May | 11:34 PM – 5:04 AM | 5.5 | 36° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:43 PM – 4:53 AM | 7.2 | 36° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:42 PM – 3:32 AM | 5.8 | 36° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:18 PM – 1:28 AM | 4.2 | 36° | S → SW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 11:22 PM | 2.7 | 33° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:10 PM – 9:30 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 ≈ 19.78 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
- 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.
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 Soldier Key, 6.5 km (4.1 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Fowey Rocks Light, closest first.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
State Park
Beach
Beach
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
State Park
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Boca Chita Campground10.8 km (6.7 mi) · reservable
- Elliot Key Campground18.3 km (11.4 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fowey Rocks Light?
What time is golden hour at Fowey Rocks Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Fowey Rocks Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Fowey Rocks Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fowey Rocks Light?
How far is Fowey Rocks Light from Key Biscayne?
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.