Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Alaska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Klondike Gold Rush
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Klondike Gold Rush. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Mountain Passes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Klondike Gold Rush the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 36° (NE) at the June solstice and 140° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 324° (NW) in June to 221° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 54° in summer but only 7° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:46 AM | 10:17 AM | 2:05 PM | 3:36 PM | 227° | 6h 50m |
| February | 7:38 AM | 8:42 AM | 3:51 PM | 4:54 PM | 246° | 9h 15m |
| March | 7:18 AM | 8:13 AM | 6:09 PM | 7:03 PM | 268° | 11h 45m |
| April | 5:46 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:18 PM | 291° | 14h 32m |
| May | 4:27 AM | 5:32 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:30 PM | 312° | 17h 04m |
| June | 3:42 AM | 5:00 AM | 9:05 PM | 10:22 PM | 324° | 18h 40m |
| July | 4:09 AM | 5:21 AM | 8:54 PM | 10:06 PM | 319° | 17h 57m |
| August | 5:18 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:54 PM | 300° | 15h 36m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:24 PM | 277° | 12h 54m |
| October | 7:40 AM | 8:39 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:55 PM | 254° | 10h 14m |
| November | 7:58 AM | 9:15 AM | 2:18 PM | 3:35 PM | 233° | 7h 38m |
| December | 8:56 AM | 10:51 AM | 1:03 PM | 2:59 PM | 221° | 6h 03m |
Computed for the park's reference point (59.6104, -135.2619); 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 | — | — |
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
Skagway has a highly variable climate with frequent rain and high winds. Average temperatures May through September range from 47-60ºF. Average temperatures October through April range from 28-38ºF.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show February as the clearest month (about 68% average cloud cover) and September as the cloudiest (80%). 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
Park headquarters and visitor center are located at 2nd and Broadway in Skagway, Alaska. To get to Skagway by car: you can access the park via the Alaska Marine Highway or the South Klondike Highway. By plane: you can fly into the Skagway Airport. By water: You can visit the park by cruise ship, tour boat, or ferry. The park visitor center is less than half a mile from all docks.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Playground
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
