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29.1294° N89.2570° W1 mBortle 2Chicago

Head of Passes Lighthouse Photography Guide

Lighthouse in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana · 1 m (3 ft)

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 244°–298°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Head of Passes Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. It sits roughly 58 km (36 mi) SE of Port Sulphur.

Elevation
1 m
3 ft
Nearest town
Port Sulphur
58 km (36 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
October
40% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:56 PM
sunset 6:28 PM

Light at Head of Passes Lighthouse

Live
Sunrise
7:02 AM
Sunset
6:23 PM
Golden hour AM
6:47 AM – 7:34 AM
Golden hour PM
5:51 PM – 6:38 PM
Blue hour AM
6:38 AM – 6:47 AM
Blue hour PM
6:38 PM – 6:47 PM
Full darkness
7:42 PM – 5:43 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:08 PM / 1:34 AM
Day length
11h 21m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Head of Passes Lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:02 AM90° E7:09 PM271° W61°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:59 AM63° ENE8:00 PM298° WNW84°14h 00m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:46 AM89° E6:55 PM271° W61°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:48 AM117° ESE5:04 PM244° WSW37°10h 17m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:27 AM6:53 AM7:27 AM4:47 PM5:22 PM5:47 PM10h 29m
February6:13 AM6:37 AM7:09 AM5:15 PM5:47 PM6:12 PM11h 10m
March6:44 AM7:08 AM7:39 AM6:35 PM7:06 PM7:30 PM11h 58m
April6:07 AM6:32 AM7:03 AM6:52 PM7:24 PM7:48 PM12h 52m
May5:40 AM6:06 AM6:40 AM7:09 PM7:42 PM8:08 PM13h 36m
June5:31 AM5:58 AM6:33 AM7:24 PM7:58 PM8:25 PM14h 00m
July5:42 AM6:09 AM6:43 AM7:24 PM7:59 PM8:25 PM13h 50m
August6:02 AM6:26 AM6:59 AM7:06 PM7:38 PM8:03 PM13h 12m
September6:19 AM6:43 AM7:14 AM6:32 PM7:04 PM7:27 PM12h 21m
October6:35 AM6:59 AM7:31 AM5:56 PM6:28 PM6:52 PM11h 29m
November5:56 AM6:21 AM6:55 AM4:30 PM5:04 PM5:29 PM10h 42m
December6:18 AM6:44 AM7:20 AM4:26 PM5:02 PM5:28 PM10h 18m

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 Head of Passes Lighthouse, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
February4:17 AM – 5:07 AM0.819°SE → SE
March3:25 AM – 5:45 AM2.329°SE → SSE
April1:26 AM – 5:06 AM3.732°SE → S
May11:22 PM – 4:32 AM5.232°SE → SSW
June9:34 PM – 4:14 AM6.732°SE → SW
July9:31 PM – 2:51 AM5.332°SSE → SW
August9:04 PM – 12:54 AM3.832°S → SW
September8:23 PM – 10:53 PM2.529°SSW → SW
October7:47 PM – 8:47 PM1.020°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—5°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.85 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (67%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F727678828890919391858274
Low °F313839495672797469534440
Precip. (in)3.83.94.24.23.76.06.87.75.73.63.24.8

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.
  • 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.

Tides

The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Pilottown, 5.6 km (3.5 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.

High & low tides — next 3 days

NOAA

Loading predictions…

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Head of Passes Lighthouse, closest first.

Lighthouse
Head of Passes West Jetty Lighthouse2.1 km away · Plaquemines Parish
Lighthouse
Head of Passes East Jetty Lighthouse2.3 km away · Plaquemines Parish
National Wildlife Refuge
Delta National Wildlife Refuge15 km away · Plaquemines Parish
Ship Shoal LightLighthouse
Ship Shoal Light15 km away · Plaquemines Parish
South Pass Range LightsLighthouse
South Pass Range Lights15 km away · Plaquemines Parish
Lighthouse
South Pass Lighthouse15 km away · Plaquemines Parish
Ghost Town
Burrwood21 km away · Plaquemines Parish
Pass A L'Outre LightLighthouse
Pass A L'Outre Light22 km away · Plaquemines Parish
Frank's Island LightLighthouse
Frank's Island Light23 km away · Plaquemines Parish

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Head of Passes Lighthouse?
October has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
What time is golden hour at Head of Passes Lighthouse?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:56 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:28 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:31 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Head of Passes Lighthouse?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 63° in June to 117° in December; sunset ranges from 298° to 244°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Head of Passes Lighthouse?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Head of Passes Lighthouse?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Head of Passes Lighthouse from Port Sulphur?
About 58 km (36 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.