Hatana Falls — a waterfall in Jefferson County, Washington at about 815 m (2,674 ft) above sea level — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Seabeck, about 35 km (22 mi) away (Hatana Falls lies WNW of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hatana Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 19° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:15 AM | 53° NE | 9:16 PM | 308° NW | 66° | 16h 01m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:13 PM | 271° W | 42° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:00 AM | 125° SE | 4:24 PM | 235° SW | 19° | 8h 24m |
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 | 7:23 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:48 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:23 PM | 8h 51m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 16m |
| March | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 38m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:21 PM | 15h 09m |
| June | 4:34 AM | 5:15 AM | 6:03 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:14 PM | 9:55 PM | 15h 59m |
| July | 4:52 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:18 AM | 8:21 PM | 9:08 PM | 9:47 PM | 15h 38m |
| August | 5:35 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:27 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 18m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:58 PM | 12h 36m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:15 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:57 PM | 10h 54m |
| November | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:50 PM | 4:37 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 18m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 8:49 AM | 3:29 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:58 PM | 8h 26m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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
From Hatana Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 1.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -6° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| April | 3:48 AM – 4:18 AM | 0.5 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:49 AM – 3:09 AM | 1.3 | 13° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:23 AM – 2:03 AM | 1.7 | 13° | SSE → S |
| July | 11:52 PM – 1:02 AM | 1.2 | 13° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:32 PM – 11:02 PM | 0.5 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.3 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (80%). August 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 | 58 | 62 | 67 | 76 | 89 | 98 | 99 | 97 | 99 | 84 | 65 | 54 |
| Low °F | -2 | 12 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 32 | 22 | 3 | 7 |
| Precip. (in) | 14.2 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 6.6 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 9.6 | 15.0 | 13.9 |
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 waterfall
- 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.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Hatana Falls, closest first.
Mountain Peak
Mountain Pass
Mountain Peak
GlacierMountain PassGlacier
Mountain PeakMountain Pass
Wilderness AreaCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Collins Campground19.6 km (12.1 mi)
- Deer Park Campground21 km (13 mi)
- Hamma Hamma Campground21 km (13 mi)
- Interrorem Cabin21 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Hamma Hamma Cabin22 km (13 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hatana Falls?
What time is golden hour at Hatana Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Hatana Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Hatana Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hatana Falls?
How far is Hatana Falls from Seabeck?
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.