Clover Island Light is a lighthouse in Benton County, Washington. The nearest town is Kennewick, about 2.1 km (1.3 mi) away (Clover Island Light lies ENE of town). Its recorded tower height is about 62 m (203 ft). It dates from 2010.
The Clover Island Light is a 62 feet (19 m) tall lighthouse along the Columbia River on Clover Island in Kennewick, Washington. Completed in 2010, it is the first lighthouse to be built in the United States since 1962. The structure is constructed from concrete and steel, and features a solar-powered beacon, which flashes every four seconds.From the Wikipedia article “Clover Island Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Clover Island Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:05 AM | 54° NE | 8:53 PM | 306° NW | 67° | 15h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:44 AM | 89° E | 6:56 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 124° SE | 4:14 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 37m |
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 | 7:02 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:24 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:37 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 01m |
| February | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 22m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:23 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:32 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:39 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:15 PM | 13h 33m |
| May | 4:49 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 58m |
| June | 4:26 AM | 5:05 AM | 5:51 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:29 PM | 15h 46m |
| July | 4:43 AM | 5:20 AM | 6:05 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:23 PM | 15h 26m |
| August | 5:24 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:40 PM | 14h 11m |
| September | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:15 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:40 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:12 PM | 6:42 PM | 10h 57m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:44 AM | 3:40 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 27m |
| December | 6:59 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:24 AM | 3:21 PM | 4:12 PM | 4:46 PM | 8h 38m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 Clover Island Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 5:12 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:14 AM – 4:14 AM | 1.0 | 14° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:08 AM – 2:58 AM | 1.8 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:35 PM – 2:15 AM | 2.7 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:15 PM – 1:05 AM | 1.8 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:06 PM – 10:56 PM | 0.8 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:53 PM – 9:03 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.05 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (79%). 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 | 64 | 64 | 76 | 89 | 99 | 108 | 110 | 109 | 102 | 87 | 70 | 62 |
| Low °F | -3 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 33 | 42 | 49 | 48 | 34 | 19 | 15 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.6 |
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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Clover Island Light, closest first.
Rock Formation
State Park
Ghost Town
National Wildlife Refuge
Mountain Peak
Mountain Pass
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Hood Park7.6 km (4.7 mi) · reservable
- Charbonneau Park And Campground21 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Fishhook Park29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Clover Island Light?
What time is golden hour at Clover Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Clover Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Clover Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Clover Island Light?
How far is Clover Island Light from Kennewick?
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.