Alaska Public Lands is a National Park Service unit in Alaska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Alaska Public Lands
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Alaska Public Lands. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Alaska Public Lands the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 32° (NNE) at the June solstice and 143° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 329° (NNW) in June to 217° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 52° in summer but only 5° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:58 AM | 11:46 AM | 2:33 PM | 4:22 PM | 224° | 6h 24m |
| February | 8:43 AM | 9:50 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:46 PM | 245° | 9h 04m |
| March | 8:17 AM | 9:15 AM | 7:04 PM | 8:01 PM | 268° | 11h 44m |
| April | 6:39 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:22 PM | 9:21 PM | 293° | 14h 42m |
| May | 5:13 AM | 6:24 AM | 9:30 PM | 10:41 PM | 315° | 17h 28m |
| June | 4:22 AM | 5:48 AM | 10:14 PM | 11:40 PM | 328° | 19h 19m |
| July | 4:52 AM | 6:11 AM | 10:02 PM | 11:20 PM | 322° | 18h 28m |
| August | 6:09 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:58 PM | 10:01 PM | 302° | 15h 52m |
| September | 7:27 AM | 8:24 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:24 PM | 278° | 12h 57m |
| October | 8:43 AM | 9:45 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:49 PM | 254° | 10h 07m |
| November | 9:07 AM | 10:34 AM | 2:57 PM | 4:24 PM | 231° | 7h 17m |
| December | 10:10 AM | — | — | 3:41 PM | 218° | 5h 31m |
Computed for the park's reference point (61.2188, -149.8945); 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| May | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| June | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| July | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| August | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Visitors center is located inside the Federal Building and weather conditions are seasonal conditions of the Anchorage area, outside the facility.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 63% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (83%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
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
Anchorage APLIC is located in downtown Anchorage on 4th Avenue, in the Federal Building. Fairbanks APLIC is located in downtown Fairbanks on the corner of Dunkel Street and Wendell Avenue, near the Chena River.
Directions: National Park Service.
