Two Rivers Light — a lighthouse in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.4 km (0.9 mi) SSE of Two Rivers. Its recorded tower height is about 11 m (36 ft). It dates from 1886.
The Two Rivers Light (also known as the Two Rivers North Pierhead Light) is a lighthouse formerly located at the harbor entrance to Two Rivers, Wisconsin. It is now located in a museum in the city.From the Wikipedia article “Two Rivers Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Two Rivers Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (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) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:08 AM | 56° NE | 8:38 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:50 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 123° ESE | 4:15 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 52m |
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 | 6:51 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:08 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:10 PM | 9h 15m |
| February | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 29m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:25 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:37 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:04 PM | 13h 27m |
| May | 4:51 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 46m |
| June | 4:31 AM | 5:07 AM | 5:51 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:12 PM | 15h 29m |
| July | 4:46 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:07 PM | 15h 11m |
| August | 5:23 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:28 PM | 14h 02m |
| September | 6:01 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:32 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:36 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 02m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:30 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:56 PM | 9h 39m |
| December | 6:46 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:13 PM | 4:46 PM | 8h 54m |
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 Two Rivers 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 5 (suburban 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 | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:43 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:40 AM – 4:10 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:46 AM – 3:16 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:03 PM – 2:33 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:48 PM – 1:18 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:49 PM – 11:19 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:12 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.67 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 September as the clearest month (about 59% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (74%). 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 | 45 | 53 | 69 | 71 | 79 | 85 | 92 | 92 | 86 | 79 | 67 | 58 |
| Low °F | -23 | -15 | -11 | 16 | 29 | 37 | 50 | 51 | 40 | 29 | 13 | -6 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
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
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Two Rivers Light, closest first.
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CaveFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Two Rivers Light?
What time is golden hour at Two Rivers Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Two Rivers Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Two Rivers Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Two Rivers Light?
How far is Two Rivers Light from Two Rivers?
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.