White Falls — a waterfall in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska — is a classic subject for landscape photographers.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At White Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 49° (NE) at the June solstice and 129° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 312° (NW) in June to 232° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 62° in summer but only 15° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 8:46 AM | 89° E | 8:57 PM | 271° W | 38° | 12h 10m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:25 AM | 49° NE | 11:06 PM | 312° NW | 62° | 16h 41m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 8:30 AM | 89° E | 8:43 PM | 272° W | 38° | 12h 13m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 9:49 AM | 129° SE | 5:35 PM | 232° SW | 15° | 7h 47m |
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
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:05 AM | 9:44 AM | 10:41 AM | 5:05 PM | 6:03 PM | 6:41 PM | 8h 19m |
| February | 8:23 AM | 8:58 AM | 9:47 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:33 PM | 10h 00m |
| March | 8:24 AM | 8:58 AM | 9:42 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:21 PM | 11h 50m |
| April | 7:11 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:32 AM | 8:55 PM | 9:40 PM | 10:16 PM | 13h 54m |
| May | 6:09 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:41 AM | 9:40 PM | 10:30 PM | 11:12 PM | 15h 39m |
| June | 5:36 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:19 AM | 10:10 PM | 11:04 PM | 11:52 PM | 16h 40m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:35 AM | 10:04 PM | 10:56 PM | 11:41 PM | 16h 13m |
| August | 6:51 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:16 AM | 9:21 PM | 10:08 PM | 10:46 PM | 14h 39m |
| September | 7:45 AM | 8:19 AM | 9:03 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:33 PM | 12h 40m |
| October | 8:34 AM | 9:08 AM | 9:55 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:24 PM | 10h 42m |
| November | 8:26 AM | 9:03 AM | 9:57 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:31 PM | 8h 51m |
| December | 9:04 AM | 9:45 AM | 10:47 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:14 PM | 7h 49m |
Local time (America/Adak), 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 | — | -8° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| June | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| July | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -7° | — |
| 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 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 88% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (97%). 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 | 45 | 45 | 43 | 44 | 46 | 49 | 54 | 57 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 46 |
| Low °F | 28 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 32 | 37 | 42 | 45 | 42 | 38 | 33 | 29 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
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 waterfall
- A 3-stop ND filter lets you use slow shutter speeds even when the light is bright.
- Shoot a vertical and a horizontal frame; tall falls often work better in portrait orientation.
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph White Falls?
What time is golden hour at White Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at White Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from White Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at White Falls?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.