Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Washington. 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 Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 19° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:53 AM | 8:44 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:45 PM | 239° | 8h 52m |
| February | 7:16 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:33 PM | 252° | 10h 17m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:15 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:59 PM | 286° | 13h 38m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:40 PM | 300° | 15h 08m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 6:00 AM | 8:21 PM | 9:09 PM | 307° | 15h 58m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:17 PM | 9:04 PM | 304° | 15h 36m |
| August | 6:06 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:23 PM | 292° | 14h 17m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:23 PM | 275° | 12h 36m |
| October | 7:29 AM | 8:11 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:23 PM | 258° | 10h 54m |
| November | 7:15 AM | 8:03 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:34 PM | 243° | 9h 19m |
| December | 7:52 AM | 8:44 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:19 PM | 235° | 8h 27m |
Computed for the park's reference point (47.5994, -122.3320); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 1.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | 3:43 AM – 4:23 AM | 0.7 | 13° |
| May | 1:42 AM – 3:02 AM | 1.3 | 13° |
| June | 12:13 AM – 2:03 AM | 1.8 | 14° |
| July | 11:44 PM – 1:04 AM | 1.3 | 13° |
| August | 10:26 PM – 10:56 PM | 0.5 | 12° |
| 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
Warm dry summers from mid-July through mid-Sept, all the rest of the year, mainly rainy and cool.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (80%). August is the warmest month and December 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 and visitor center are located on the northwest corner of 2nd Ave South and South Jackson Street in the former Cadillac Hotel. The Pioneer Square neighborhood is serviced by several public transportation options. Visit your directions page for more information about parking.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Living History
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
WA
WA
WA
WA
WA
WA