Located in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site is a scenic viewpoint. It sits roughly 43 km (27 mi) ESE of Craig.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 44° (NE) at the June solstice and 133° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 316° (NW) in June to 227° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 58° in summer but only 11° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:53 AM | 89° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 35° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:09 AM | 44° NE | 9:36 PM | 316° NW | 58° | 17h 27m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:36 AM | 89° E | 6:51 PM | 272° W | 35° | 12h 14m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:16 AM | 133° SE | 3:22 PM | 227° SW | 11° | 7h 06m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:08 AM | 9:16 AM | 2:44 PM | 3:52 PM | 4:36 PM | 7h 44m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:34 PM | 9h 42m |
| March | 6:29 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:30 PM | 11h 48m |
| April | 5:07 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 09m |
| May | 3:53 AM | 4:41 AM | 5:37 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:42 PM | 16h 12m |
| June | 3:10 AM | 4:09 AM | 5:11 AM | 8:32 PM | 9:34 PM | 10:33 PM | 17h 25m |
| July | 3:36 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:29 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:23 PM | 10:17 PM | 16h 53m |
| August | 4:42 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:26 PM | 9:09 PM | 15h 02m |
| September | 5:46 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:21 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 46m |
| October | 6:44 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:29 PM | 10h 31m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:27 AM | 2:45 PM | 3:47 PM | 4:28 PM | 8h 22m |
| December | 7:26 AM | 8:12 AM | 9:27 AM | 2:05 PM | 3:20 PM | 4:06 PM | 7h 08m |
Local time (America/Juneau), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
At this latitude the summer nights are too short or too bright for the Milky Way core to stand high in true darkness; aim for star trails or the aurora.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -9° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -8° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -21° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.95 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 1.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show February as the clearest month (about 73% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (80%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 51 | 50 | 62 | 69 | 74 | 87 | 80 | 83 | 75 | 66 | 53 | 49 |
| Low °F | -4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 27 | 37 | 43 | 44 | 36 | 18 | -2 | 5 |
| Precip. (in) | 11.0 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 12.1 | 11.5 | 10.9 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this scenic viewpoint
- Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
- A panorama of 3–5 vertical frames gives more resolution and a wider view without a fisheye look.
- Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, Graduated ND filter, Headlamp. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Polk Camp1.8 km (1.1 mi) · reservable
- Josephine Lake Cabin10.6 km (6.6 mi) · reservable
- Twelvemile Cabin13.8 km (8.6 mi) · reservable
- Trollers Cove Cabin20 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Karta River Cabin25 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site?
What time is golden hour at Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site?
Where does the sun rise and set at Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site?
Can you see the Milky Way from Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site?
How far is Dog Salmon Fish Pass Wildlife Viewing Site from Craig?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.