underwater photo of salmon swimming in river
  1. Home
  2. National Parks
  3. Alaska
  4. Alagnak Wild River

Alagnak Wild River Photography Guide

Wild River · Alaska

  • Bortle 1
  • 0 photo spots
  • Clearest: March
Photo: NPS/R. Wood · Public domain (NPS)

Alagnak Wild River is a Wild River in Alaska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.

The headwaters of Alagnak Wild River lie within the rugged Aleutian Range of neighboring Katmai National Park and Preserve. Meandering west towards Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea, the Alagnak traverses the beautiful Alaska Peninsula, providing an unparalleled opportunity to experience the unique wilderness, wildlife, and cultural heritage of southwest Alaska.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
0
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
March
58% cloud

Light at Alagnak

Live
Sunrise
9:15 AM
Sunset
7:05 PM
Golden hour AM
8:49 AM – 10:14 AM
Golden hour PM
6:06 PM – 7:31 PM
Blue hour AM
8:33 AM – 8:49 AM
Blue hour PM
7:31 PM – 7:47 PM
Full darkness
9:21 PM – 7:01 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 72%
Moonrise / set
5:44 PM / 1:51 AM
Day length
9h 51m
Sunrise azimuth
109°
Sunset azimuth
251°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Anchorage. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Alagnak the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 37° (NE) at the June solstice and 139° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 323° (NW) in June to 222° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 54° in summer but only 8° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January10:05 AM11:32 AM3:37 PM5:04 PM228°6h 58m
February9:00 AM10:01 AM5:18 PM6:19 PM247°9h 19m
March8:41 AM9:35 AM7:33 PM8:27 PM268°11h 46m
April7:11 AM8:06 AM8:44 PM9:39 PM291°14h 29m
May5:54 AM6:58 AM9:45 PM10:50 PM311°16h 56m
June5:12 AM6:26 AM10:25 PM11:40 PM323°18h 28m
July5:38 AM6:47 AM10:15 PM11:24 PM318°17h 47m
August6:44 AM7:42 AM9:17 PM10:15 PM300°15h 31m
September7:54 AM8:48 AM7:53 PM8:47 PM277°12h 52m
October9:03 AM10:00 AM6:22 PM7:19 PM255°10h 16m
November9:18 AM10:33 AM3:47 PM5:02 PM234°7h 44m
December10:14 AM12:00 PM2:41 PM4:27 PM222°6h 13m

Computed for the park's reference point (59.0518, -156.1120); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
FebruaryNot visible in darkness——
MarchNot visible in darkness——
AprilNot visible in darkness——
MayNot visible in darkness——
JuneNot visible in darkness——
JulyNot visible in darkness——
AugustNot visible in darkness——
SeptemberNot visible in darkness——
OctoberNot visible in darkness——
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.

Weather & best time to visit

Located between the stormy north Pacific Ocean and the even stormier Bering Sea, the Alagnak Wild River is often a battleground between weather systems. When you visit, be prepared to encounter all types of weather.  On average, wet and cool conditions predominate in spring, summer, and fall. Winters are drier and colder.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 58% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (82%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. 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.

Getting there

Alagnak Wild River is located in a remote part of the Alaska Peninsula, about 290 miles southwest of Anchorage. Access is by boat or small floatplane.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hunting and Gathering
  • Hunting
  • Paddling
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Kayaking
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching

Nearby parks

Katmai National Park & PreserveAK
Katmai National Park & Preserve79 km away · National Park & Preserve

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Alagnak Wild River?
March has the clearest skies on average. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Alagnak?
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.
Can you fly a drone in Alagnak?
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.
Can you see the Milky Way in Alagnak?
The core is low or absent at this latitude. Estimated sky: Bortle 1.
What time is sunset in Alagnak?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 7:19 PM local time; see the live widget for today.