Gavan Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska. It sits roughly 2.2 km (1.4 mi) NNE of Sitka.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Gavan Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 41° (NE) at the June solstice and 135° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 319° (NW) in June to 225° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 56° in summer but only 9° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 33° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:07 AM | 41° NE | 10:01 PM | 319° NW | 56° | 17h 54m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 88° E | 7:02 PM | 272° W | 33° | 12h 15m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:39 AM | 135° SE | 3:21 PM | 225° SW | 9° | 6h 42m |
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 | 7:43 AM | 8:29 AM | 9:44 AM | 2:38 PM | 3:53 PM | 4:40 PM | 7h 24m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:28 AM | 4:05 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:42 PM | 9h 32m |
| March | 6:39 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:14 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 47m |
| April | 5:12 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:19 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:52 PM | 14h 17m |
| May | 3:50 AM | 4:43 AM | 5:42 AM | 8:15 PM | 9:14 PM | 10:07 PM | 16h 31m |
| June | 2:58 AM | 4:07 AM | 5:14 AM | 8:51 PM | 9:59 PM | 11:07 PM | 17h 52m |
| July | 3:30 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:33 AM | 8:42 PM | 9:46 PM | 10:46 PM | 17h 16m |
| August | 4:44 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:29 PM | 15h 15m |
| September | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:22 PM | 8:01 PM | 12h 49m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:29 AM | 5:06 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 25m |
| November | 7:00 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:51 AM | 2:42 PM | 3:50 PM | 4:33 PM | 8h 06m |
| December | 7:46 AM | 8:35 AM | 10:01 AM | 1:54 PM | 3:20 PM | 4:09 PM | 6h 45m |
Local time (America/Sitka), 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
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -9° | — |
| 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.02 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 1.0+ 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 74% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (84%). August is the warmest month and January 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 | 50 | 46 | 62 | 68 | 73 | 83 | 81 | 80 | 72 | 60 | 51 | 48 |
| Low °F | -5 | -1 | -3 | 16 | 27 | 37 | 42 | 42 | 34 | 20 | -1 | 0 |
| Precip. (in) | 8.3 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 7.5 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 9.6 | 9.0 |
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
- Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Gavan Viewpoint, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Lake
State Park
Mountain Peak
Lighthouse
Waterfall
State ParkLighthouseWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Starrigavan Creek Cabin6.9 km (4.3 mi) · reservable
- Starrigavan Campground And Day Use7.3 km (4.5 mi) · reservable
- Samsing Cove Cabin10.4 km (6.5 mi) · reservable
- Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka16.1 km (10.0 mi) · reservable
- Brents Beach Cabin16.6 km (10.3 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Gavan Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Gavan Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Gavan Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Gavan Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Gavan Viewpoint?
How far is Gavan Viewpoint from Sitka?
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.