Michigan City East Light — a lighthouse in LaPorte County, Indiana — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Indiana Dunes National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Michigan City, about 2.7 km (1.7 mi) away (Michigan City East Light lies NNW of town). Its recorded tower height is about 15 m (49 ft). It dates from 1904. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Michigan City Breakwater lighthouse is located in the harbor of Michigan City, Indiana. This is the successor to the Old Michigan City Light, when the lantern, lens and light was moved to the new light at the end of the newly extended pier. This is one of very few lights on the Great Lakes which still has the iron walkway atop the pier (see Manistee Pierhead lights and Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light). There has been a lighthouse in Michigan City for 170 years. However, "most people in Indiana don't realize there is a lighthouse in the state." Mayor Oberlie passes out lapel pins to illustrate its importance and scope. He calls Lake Michigan "the city's crown jewel," which became prominent when he was city planner in the 1970s.From the Wikipedia article “Michigan City East Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Michigan City East Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:52 AM | 90° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:14 AM | 57° ENE | 8:26 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 13m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:36 AM | 89° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:12 AM | 122° ESE | 4:21 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 09m |
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 | 6:42 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:56 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 29m |
| February | 6:16 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 6:33 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:39 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:57 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 4:57 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:33 PM | 14h 32m |
| June | 4:39 AM | 5:13 AM | 5:55 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:59 PM | 15h 11m |
| July | 4:54 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 55m |
| August | 5:27 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:19 PM | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:01 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:32 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:36 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:19 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:29 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 51m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:19 PM | 4:50 PM | 9h 10m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Michigan City East Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:18 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:19 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:17 AM – 3:27 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 10:36 PM – 2:56 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:26 PM – 1:36 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:36 PM – 11:36 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:34 PM – 9:34 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.94 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (78%). July 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 | 62 | 66 | 81 | 80 | 92 | 101 | 105 | 96 | 98 | 86 | 76 | 67 |
| Low °F | -16 | -10 | -4 | 22 | 25 | 36 | 44 | 45 | 38 | 26 | 13 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Michigan City East Light, closest first.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Sand Dunes
Sand Dunes
Beach
Dark Sky Place
Sand Dunes
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Central Avenue Walk-In Sites4.2 km (2.6 mi) · reservable
- Dunewood Campground8.7 km (5.4 mi) · reservable
- Dunbar Group Site9.1 km (5.6 mi) · reservable
- Chellberg Farm Picnic Shelters18.9 km (11.7 mi) · reservable
- West Beach Picnic Shelters27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Michigan City East Light?
What time is golden hour at Michigan City East Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Michigan City East Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Michigan City East Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Michigan City East Light?
How far is Michigan City East Light from Michigan City?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.