Bluff Point Light — a lighthouse in Clinton County, New York — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 8.6 km (5.3 mi) S of Plattsburgh. It dates from 1874. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bluff Point Light, also known as the Valcour Island Light, on Valcour Island in Lake Champlain was in service from its construction in 1874 until 1930 and was one of the last lighthouses on Lake Champlain to be named. It is now part of Adirondack State Park and operated as a museum by the Clinton County Historical Association, an affiliate of the Adirondack Coast Cultural Alliance (ACCA).From the Wikipedia article “Bluff Point Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bluff Point 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) | 6:58 AM | 90° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:09 AM | 55° NE | 8:43 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 34m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:41 AM | 89° E | 6:53 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:28 AM | 123° ESE | 4:17 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 49m |
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 | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:14 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:40 PM | 5:12 PM | 9h 12m |
| February | 6:25 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 27m |
| March | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:21 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:29 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:49 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:09 PM | 13h 28m |
| May | 4:53 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 48m |
| June | 4:32 AM | 5:09 AM | 5:53 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:41 PM | 9:18 PM | 15h 33m |
| July | 4:48 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:13 PM | 15h 14m |
| August | 5:25 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:33 PM | 14h 04m |
| September | 6:04 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:36 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:40 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:40 PM | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:35 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:59 PM | 9h 36m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:13 AM | 3:27 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:48 PM | 8h 50m |
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 Bluff Point 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 4:47 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:45 AM – 4:15 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:51 AM – 3:11 AM | 2.3 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:09 PM – 2:39 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:55 PM – 1:15 AM | 2.3 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:55 PM – 11:15 PM | 1.3 | 16° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:46 PM – 9:16 PM | 0.5 | 13° | 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.07 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 56% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (80%). 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 | 55 | 63 | 74 | 79 | 86 | 88 | 90 | 88 | 91 | 79 | 70 | 60 |
| Low °F | -29 | -27 | -18 | 8 | 27 | 36 | 43 | 45 | 32 | 23 | -7 | -21 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bluff Point Light, closest first.
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Lake
State Park
State ParkWaterfallFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bluff Point Light?
What time is golden hour at Bluff Point Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bluff Point Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bluff Point Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bluff Point Light?
How far is Bluff Point Light from Plattsburgh?
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.