Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area is a National Historic Area 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.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Aleutian Islands World War II the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 46° (NE) at the June solstice and 131° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 314° (NW) in June to 229° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 60° in summer but only 13° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10:17 AM | 11:20 AM | 5:12 PM | 6:16 PM | 234° | 7h 59m |
| February | 9:26 AM | 10:18 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:16 PM | 250° | 9h 50m |
| March | 9:21 AM | 10:08 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:10 PM | 268° | 11h 49m |
| April | 8:05 AM | 8:53 AM | 9:20 PM | 10:08 PM | 288° | 14h 02m |
| May | 7:04 AM | 7:58 AM | 10:09 PM | 11:02 PM | 305° | 15h 58m |
| June | 6:35 AM | 7:34 AM | 10:41 PM | 11:40 PM | 314° | 17h 06m |
| July | 6:55 AM | 7:51 AM | 10:34 PM | 11:31 PM | 310° | 16h 36m |
| August | 7:45 AM | 8:35 AM | 9:48 PM | 10:37 PM | 296° | 14h 52m |
| September | 8:40 AM | 9:27 AM | 8:37 PM | 9:24 PM | 276° | 12h 43m |
| October | 9:35 AM | 10:24 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:10 PM | 257° | 10h 36m |
| November | 9:35 AM | 10:33 AM | 5:10 PM | 6:09 PM | 239° | 8h 34m |
| December | 10:19 AM | 11:29 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:45 PM | 230° | 7h 26m |
Computed for the park's reference point (53.9143, -166.5197); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
At this latitude the summer nights are too short or too bright for the Milky Way core to stand high in true darkness; aim for star trails or the aurora.
| 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 | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
The Aleutian Islands are known for unpredictable and stormy weather. Rain, fog, and wind are common. Dress warmly and carry rain gear even in summer. Summer temperatures range from 45 to 65 degrees F.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 84% average cloud cover) and April as the cloudiest (90%). August is the warmest month and March 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
The park is located on Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Island chain. The island is located 800 miles west of Anchorage. The island can be reached by ferry or by commercial or charter air flights from Anchorage. If you choose to fly, the Aleutian World War II Visitor Center is conveniently located next to the Unalaska airport.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits