North Manitou Island Light — a lighthouse in Leelanau County, Michigan — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 40 km (25 mi) NW of Greilickville.
North Manitou Island Light was a Lake Michigan lighthouse and fog signal complex at Dimmick's Point on North Manitou Island in Leelanau County within the U.S. state of Michigan. In operation from 1899 until 1935, the lighthouse helped to mark the Manitou Passage. The lighthouse complex was superseded by the North Manitou Shoal Light in 1935 and was privatized in 1938. While fragments of the light station complex remained as of 2017, the lighthouse tower succumbed to the effects of erosion on its exposed site in 1942. The lightkeeper's dwelling house followed it into oblivion in the early 1970s.From the Wikipedia article “North Manitou Island Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At North Manitou 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 68° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:48 AM | 90° E | 7:56 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:58 AM | 55° NE | 9:35 PM | 305° NW | 68° | 15h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:32 AM | 89° E | 7:43 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:20 AM | 123° ESE | 5:05 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 45m |
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 | 7:47 AM | 8:19 AM | 9:06 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:28 PM | 6:01 PM | 9h 09m |
| February | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:27 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:12 PM | 6:42 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 7:28 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:36 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:19 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:29 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:39 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:00 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:58 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:41 PM | 14h 51m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:48 PM | 9:33 PM | 10:11 PM | 15h 36m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:45 PM | 9:29 PM | 10:05 PM | 15h 17m |
| August | 6:14 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:24 PM | 14h 06m |
| September | 6:54 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:02 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:26 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:30 AM | 8:00 AM | 8:40 AM | 6:20 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 11h 00m |
| November | 7:11 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:27 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:48 PM | 9h 34m |
| December | 7:42 AM | 8:16 AM | 9:05 AM | 4:15 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:37 PM | 8h 47m |
Local time (America/Detroit), 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 North Manitou Island Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:48 AM – 6:08 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:47 AM – 5:07 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:45 AM – 3:55 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:06 AM – 3:16 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:50 PM – 2:00 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:47 PM – 11:57 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:38 PM – 9:58 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.9 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 61% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (81%). August is the warmest month and February 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 | 43 | 41 | 55 | 60 | 67 | 73 | 78 | 78 | 75 | 73 | 60 | 55 |
| Low °F | 1 | -10 | -3 | 15 | 31 | 37 | 49 | 54 | 44 | 35 | 18 | 11 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of North Manitou Island Light, closest first.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Scenic Viewpoint
Sand DunesSand Dunes
Lake
Sand DunesCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Village Campground - North Manitou Island7.3 km (4.5 mi)
- South Manitou Group Campground11.7 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- Popple Campground - South Manitou Island12.1 km (7.5 mi)
- D.H. Day Campground19.0 km (11.8 mi) · reservable
- D.H. Day Group Campground20 km (12 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph North Manitou Island Light?
What time is golden hour at North Manitou Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at North Manitou Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from North Manitou Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at North Manitou Island Light?
How far is North Manitou Island Light from Greilickville?
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.