Karta River Wilderness is a wilderness area in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska. The nearest town is Craig, about 28 km (18 mi) away (Karta River Wilderness lies ENE of town).
Karta River Wilderness is a U. S. wilderness area within the Tongass National Forest, centrally located on Prince of Wales Island. It is 8 miles (13 km) north of Hollis, Alaska just west of the Kasaan Peninsula and may be accessed by a quick 10-minute plane ride or 30-minute boat ride. The wilderness was established by Congress in 1990, as part of the Tongass Timber Reform Act. The Karta River flows from the Klawock Mountains down through Salmon and Karta Lakes to the sea. Rich and full of salmon, this artery carries the lifeblood of the Karta Valley. Attracted by its bounty, the Kaigani Haida of Kasaan fished this river and hunted the forest it supports. Later non-natives came, drawn by the same desires to hunt and fish and they built cabins, roads and mines. Today only a few cabins remain on the shores of the lakes and river so that visitors may stay for a short time and continue...From the Wikipedia article “Karta River Wilderness”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Karta River Wilderness 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 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) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 34° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:08 AM | 44° NE | 9:39 PM | 317° NW | 58° | 17h 31m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:37 AM | 88° E | 6:52 PM | 272° W | 35° | 12h 15m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:19 AM | 133° SE | 3:21 PM | 227° SW | 11° | 7h 02m |
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
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 8:10 AM | 9:19 AM | 2:43 PM | 3:52 PM | 4:35 PM | 7h 41m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:16 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:35 PM | 9h 40m |
| March | 6:30 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:31 PM | 11h 48m |
| April | 5:07 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 10m |
| May | 3:52 AM | 4:41 AM | 5:37 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:44 PM | 16h 15m |
| June | 3:08 AM | 4:08 AM | 5:11 AM | 8:34 PM | 9:37 PM | 10:37 PM | 17h 29m |
| July | 3:35 AM | 4:29 AM | 5:29 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:26 PM | 10:20 PM | 16h 56m |
| August | 4:42 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:11 PM | 15h 04m |
| September | 5:47 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:22 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:47 PM | 12h 46m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:13 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:30 PM | 10h 30m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:29 AM | 2:44 PM | 3:46 PM | 4:28 PM | 8h 20m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:14 AM | 9:31 AM | 2:03 PM | 3:20 PM | 4:06 PM | 7h 05m |
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 | — | 2° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| 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 | — | -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 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 wilderness area
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.
Suggested gear: Lightweight tripod, Spare batteries, Headlamp, Navigation. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drones may not take off from or land in federally designated wilderness, where mechanized equipment is prohibited under the Wilderness Act.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Karta River Wilderness, closest first.
Waterfall
Scenic Viewpoint
Ghost TownWaterfall
LighthouseLighthouseCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Salmon Lake Cabin Thorne Bay4.1 km (2.6 mi) · reservable
- Karta Lake Cabin7.8 km (4.9 mi) · reservable
- Black Bear Lake Cabin (Tongass National Forest, Ak)8.6 km (5.4 mi) · reservable
- Karta River Cabin10.0 km (6.2 mi) · reservable
- Eagles Nest Campground14.1 km (8.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Karta River Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Karta River Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Karta River Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Karta River Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Karta River Wilderness?
How far is Karta River Wilderness from Craig?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.