San Juan Island 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 6 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in San Juan Island
We matched 6 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to San Juan Island. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Rock Formations (1)
Beaches (2)
Lighthouses (1)
Sand Dunes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At San Juan Island the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 234° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:00 AM | 8:51 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:45 PM | 238° | 8h 45m |
| February | 7:21 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:34 PM | 252° | 10h 13m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:18 PM | 268° | 11h 51m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:03 PM | 286° | 13h 41m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:19 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:46 PM | 301° | 15h 14m |
| June | 5:11 AM | 6:00 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:17 PM | 308° | 16h 06m |
| July | 5:27 AM | 6:15 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:11 PM | 305° | 15h 44m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:29 PM | 293° | 14h 22m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:27 PM | 276° | 12h 37m |
| October | 7:33 AM | 8:16 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:24 PM | 258° | 10h 52m |
| November | 7:21 AM | 8:10 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:34 PM | 243° | 9h 13m |
| December | 7:58 AM | 8:53 AM | 3:24 PM | 4:18 PM | 235° | 8h 20m |
Computed for the park's reference point (48.5124, -123.0610); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From San Juan Island, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from May through July. May gives the longest window (about 1.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | 4:01 AM – 4:21 AM | 0.3 | 11° |
| May | 1:56 AM – 2:56 AM | 1.0 | 12° |
| June | 12:50 AM – 1:30 AM | 0.7 | 13° |
| July | 12:03 AM – 12:43 AM | 0.7 | 12° |
| August | 10:36 PM – 10:46 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 60 F. Wildflowers are at their peak around May. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 45 F to 70 F. On very sunny days, be prepared with water-heat exhaustion is a common complaint among park visitors who are unprepared. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 65 F. Rain is common. Winter: Temperatures range from 35 F to 50 F. Be prepared with cold and wet weather gear and numerous layers if you intend to be outside. Rain and wind are common.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (83%). 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
San Juan Island is served by Washington State Ferries, several private cruise and shuttle craft and two air carriers (one of which has both land and seaplane service). The Washington State Ferries terminal is 85 miles north of Seattle and 90 miles south of Vancouver, BC in Anacortes, WA.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Gathering and Foraging
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Swimming
- Saltwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
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