Located in Ashland County, Wisconsin, Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light is a lighthouse. It lies in or next to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 4.1 km (2.5 mi) NNE of Ashland. Its recorded tower height is about 17 m (56 ft). It dates from 1915. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Ashland Harbor Breakwater lighthouse, also known as Ashland Breakwater Lighthouse, is an operational lighthouse located near Ashland in Ashland County, Wisconsin, USA. Located in Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior, it is owned and managed by the National Park Service, and is a part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It sits at the end of a long and detached breakwater, which creates an artificial harbor. A lighthouse keeper's quarters and a boathouse, constructed in 1916, are located about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the light. There are additional living quarters on the second and third stories of the lighthouse.From the Wikipedia article “Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (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) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:11 AM | 54° NE | 9:01 PM | 307° NW | 67° | 15h 51m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:51 AM | 89° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:46 AM | 125° SE | 4:19 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 33m |
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 | 7:10 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:33 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:17 PM | 8h 58m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:29 PM | 6:00 PM | 10h 20m |
| March | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:39 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:45 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 34m |
| May | 4:55 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:07 PM | 15h 01m |
| June | 4:31 AM | 5:10 AM | 5:57 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:39 PM | 15h 49m |
| July | 4:48 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:11 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:54 PM | 9:32 PM | 15h 29m |
| August | 5:29 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 13m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:48 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:49 PM | 10h 57m |
| November | 6:34 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:31 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 25m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:33 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:17 PM | 4:52 PM | 8h 35m |
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 Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 5:20 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:23 AM – 4:13 AM | 0.8 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:29 AM – 3:09 AM | 1.7 | 14° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:51 PM – 2:11 AM | 2.3 | 14° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:28 PM – 1:08 AM | 1.7 | 14° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:16 PM – 11:06 PM | 0.8 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:01 PM – 9:01 PM | 0.0 | 10° | 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: 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 ≈ 20.68 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.5+ 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 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (76%). 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 | 42 | 52 | 72 | 76 | 86 | 89 | 98 | 93 | 89 | 80 | 68 | 54 |
| Low °F | -25 | -24 | -24 | 9 | 25 | 36 | 44 | 44 | 33 | 18 | 1 | -16 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
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.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light, closest first.
National Wildlife Refuge
Sand Dunes
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light?
What time is golden hour at Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light?
How far is Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light from Ashland?
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.