Whitman Mission National Historic Site is a National Historic Site 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 Whitman Mission the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:33 AM | 8:20 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:35 PM | 240° | 9h 03m |
| February | 6:58 AM | 7:40 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:20 PM | 253° | 10h 23m |
| March | 7:07 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:20 PM | 7:00 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:41 PM | 285° | 13h 33m |
| May | 5:22 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:20 PM | 299° | 14h 57m |
| June | 5:03 AM | 5:49 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:47 PM | 306° | 15h 44m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:42 PM | 303° | 15h 24m |
| August | 5:54 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:04 PM | 291° | 14h 10m |
| September | 6:33 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:07 PM | 275° | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:09 PM | 259° | 10h 58m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:41 AM | 3:38 PM | 4:23 PM | 244° | 9h 28m |
| December | 7:30 AM | 8:20 AM | 3:20 PM | 4:10 PM | 237° | 8h 40m |
Computed for the park's reference point (46.0412, -118.4629); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Whitman Mission, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), 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 | 5:10 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| April | 3:01 AM – 4:11 AM | 1.2 | 14° |
| May | 1:04 AM – 3:04 AM | 2.0 | 15° |
| June | 11:30 PM – 2:20 AM | 2.8 | 15° |
| July | 11:10 PM – 1:00 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| August | 10:02 PM – 11:02 PM | 1.0 | 14° |
| September | 8:50 PM – 9:00 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers are hot. Hats, water and sunblock are recommended. Winters are mild and rainy with a few snow storms. Layered clothing is advised.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (79%). July 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 site can be reached from US Highway 12, 8 miles west of Walla Walla, Wa. Airports are located in Walla Walla (11 miles east of park), Pasco (43 miles west), and Pendleton, Oregon (46 miles south).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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ID/MT