Timeline
06:07
Arrive at Oyster Pond and find a quiet spot facing east. The view is clear enough to see the sun align perfectly behind Chatham Light tower as it breaks the horizon. This specific alignment happens between 15 Oct and 16 Oct, and again from 25 Feb to 02 Mar.
06:52
Walk to Chatham Light itself. The sun is now high enough to illuminate the structure and the surrounding beach. Note that the beach overlook has a 30 minute parking limit, so keep an eye on the clock if you drove.
07:52
Stay for the golden light. The sun sets toward the WSW in winter, but by this time the light is soft and warm on the white sand. It is a safe place to swim and you might still spot seals in the water.
Local tip
The parking lot gets busy, so arriving early is key. If you need food or coffee, check the route to nearby shops as they open after sunrise.
Check before you go
- Parking at the beach overlook is limited to 30 minutes.
- The alignment at Oyster Pond is only visible on specific dates: 15-16 Oct, 25 Feb-02 Mar, and 11-15 Oct.
Worth knowing
- Sun position is calculated. We have not confirmed the view is unobstructed.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Chatham (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).