Baker Island Light is a lighthouse in Hancock County, Maine. It lies in or next to Acadia National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 12.2 km (7.6 mi) E of Tremont. Its recorded tower height is about 13 m (43 ft). It dates from 1828. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Baker Island Light is a lighthouse on Baker Island, Maine, which is part of Acadia National Park. The light station was established in 1828 as a guide to the southern entrance to Frenchman Bay. The present tower was built in 1855; the well-preserved tower, keeper's house, and associated outbuildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.From the Wikipedia article “Baker Island Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Baker Island Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:37 AM | 90° E | 6:45 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:50 AM | 55° NE | 8:21 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 31m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:21 AM | 89° E | 6:32 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:06 AM | 123° ESE | 3:57 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 51m |
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 | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:51 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:52 PM | 9h 14m |
| February | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:14 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:32 PM | 10h 29m |
| March | 6:17 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:08 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:20 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:47 PM | 13h 27m |
| May | 4:33 AM | 5:07 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:27 PM | 14h 46m |
| June | 4:13 AM | 4:49 AM | 5:34 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:55 PM | 15h 30m |
| July | 4:28 AM | 5:04 AM | 5:47 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:50 PM | 15h 12m |
| August | 5:05 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:11 PM | 14h 03m |
| September | 5:43 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:51 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:20 PM | 11h 02m |
| November | 5:58 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:13 AM | 3:24 PM | 4:07 PM | 4:39 PM | 9h 38m |
| December | 6:29 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:50 AM | 3:08 PM | 3:55 PM | 4:29 PM | 8h 53m |
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 Baker Island Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:06 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 3:53 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:29 AM – 2:59 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:46 PM – 2:16 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:31 PM – 1:01 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:32 PM – 11:02 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:25 PM – 8:55 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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 ≈ 21.87 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 53% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). 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 | 53 | 51 | 72 | 73 | 81 | 88 | 89 | 93 | 94 | 79 | 64 | 60 |
| Low °F | -19 | -19 | -13 | 15 | 29 | 38 | 49 | 47 | 36 | 24 | 6 | -15 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
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
- 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.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Southwest Harbor, 9.8 km (6.1 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Baker Island Light, closest first.
Lighthouse
Scenic Viewpoint
Beach
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Scenic Viewpoint
Waterfall
Mountain PeakWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Blackwoods Campground7.7 km (4.8 mi) · reservable
- Seawall Campground8.3 km (5.1 mi) · reservable
- Schoodic Woods Campground18.7 km (11.6 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Baker Island Light?
What time is golden hour at Baker Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Baker Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Baker Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Baker Island Light?
How far is Baker Island Light from Tremont?
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.