Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is a National Memorial in California. 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 Port Chicago Naval Magazine
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Port Chicago Naval Magazine. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Port Chicago Naval Magazine the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:13 PM | 244° | 9h 49m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:47 PM | 255° | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:12 PM | 295° | 14h 14m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:33 PM | 301° | 14h 48m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:31 PM | 299° | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:24 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:03 PM | 289° | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:17 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:57 PM | 247° | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:50 PM | 241° | 9h 32m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.0569, -122.0302); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Port Chicago Naval Magazine, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), 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 | 5:06 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:13 AM – 5:43 AM | 1.5 | 19° |
| April | 2:18 AM – 4:58 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:17 AM – 4:07 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:29 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:22 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:41 PM – 12:21 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:17 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 7:59 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is on a base and sits on the waterfront. There is no shelter at the memorial, aside from the shuttle. It can be windy and cold during any season. Many people prefer to at least bring a light jacket during the summer, or coat during the other seasons.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 19% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (57%). 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
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is on an active military base, so it is only accessible by reservation. The shuttle picks up visitors with reservations at the John Muir National Historic Site. Please know that all visitors for the memorial must have a reservation. Please visit our website for information on how to obtain reservations.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Park Film
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