Portland Canal Viewpoint — a scenic viewpoint in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 120 km (75 mi) ENE of Ketchikan.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Portland Canal Viewpoint the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 43° (NE) at the June solstice and 134° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 317° (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) | 6:43 AM | 89° E | 6:54 PM | 271° W | 34° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 3:55 AM | 43° NE | 9:30 PM | 317° NW | 58° | 17h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:26 AM | 88° E | 6:41 PM | 272° W | 34° | 12h 15m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:10 AM | 134° SE | 3:08 PM | 227° SW | 11° | 6h 58m |
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 | 7:17 AM | 8:01 AM | 9:11 AM | 2:29 PM | 3:39 PM | 4:23 PM | 7h 38m |
| February | 6:27 AM | 7:06 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 39m |
| March | 6:19 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:44 PM | 7:21 PM | 11h 48m |
| April | 4:55 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:26 PM | 14h 11m |
| May | 3:39 AM | 4:28 AM | 5:25 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:36 PM | 16h 18m |
| June | 2:53 AM | 3:55 AM | 4:59 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:28 PM | 10:30 PM | 17h 33m |
| July | 3:21 AM | 4:16 AM | 5:17 AM | 8:16 PM | 9:17 PM | 10:12 PM | 17h 00m |
| August | 4:29 AM | 5:12 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:18 PM | 9:02 PM | 15h 06m |
| September | 5:35 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:11 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:37 PM | 12h 47m |
| October | 6:34 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:19 PM | 10h 29m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:17 AM | 8:21 AM | 2:30 PM | 3:34 PM | 4:16 PM | 8h 17m |
| December | 7:19 AM | 8:06 AM | 9:24 AM | 1:48 PM | 3:07 PM | 3:54 PM | 7h 01m |
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 | — | -10° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 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 71% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (82%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 41 | 39 | 57 | 64 | 74 | 90 | 90 | 82 | 80 | 66 | 50 | 44 |
| Low °F | -29 | -18 | -13 | -2 | 13 | 35 | 41 | 40 | 30 | 11 | -16 | -14 |
| Precip. (in) | 14.5 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 7.7 | 9.9 | 13.4 | 15.3 | 14.7 | 13.0 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Portland Canal Viewpoint, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Portland Canal Viewpoint?
What time is golden hour at Portland Canal Viewpoint?
Where does the sun rise and set at Portland Canal Viewpoint?
Can you see the Milky Way from Portland Canal Viewpoint?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Portland Canal Viewpoint?
How far is Portland Canal Viewpoint from Ketchikan?
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.