Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine is noted as the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the United States and as such is the 1st place in the U.S. to receive the sun’s rays at sunrise (between October 7 & March 6). What would be the west coast equivalent? Namely, the last place in the lower 48 states of the continental U.S. to receive sunlight at sunset during that same time period? If it turns out to be some jagged peak only accessible by dint of serious mountaineering skills and technical climbing, what would be the highest point one could drive most of the way up to and then make a modest hike/easy climb to a suitable viewpoint (and get safely down from in the dark)?
I have seen the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain, and think it would be cool to try to watch the sunset from a similar vantage point on the west coast.
I would guess that it’s probably Mt Rainier, almost as high as Whitney and 3 degrees further west. There’s a fabulous trail around it called the Wonderland Trail, but that only goes about halfway up. It’s mountaineering to reach the summit.
In the Cascade range, apparently Hart’s Pass is the highest road, but that’s only at 7000 feet.
There are roads in California that might be slightly further east but are much higher. I’d guess the place you are looking for is somewhere on this list, depending on what you’d consider “accessible”.
Hmm, I may have to revise my answer. 0.25 deg longitude corresponds to 1 minute, but it takes several thousand feet of elevation to change sunset time by 1 minute. So we are probably looking for somewhere near the most westerly point, not necessarily a particularly high mountain.
It’s not a mountain, but Cape Flattery in Washington is the westernmost point in the contiguous U.S. However, it’s so far north the sun may set there earlier than points south (during the same window as the OP). Maybe some place in southern California, around Vandenberg AFB, or one of the Channel Islands?
All of the high mountains on the west coast are 100-150 miles inland from the ocean, so I would guess all of the high peaks of the Sierra and Cascades would see the sun setting earlier than some lower points closer to/along the coast (also because the coastal ranges would get in the way).
It’s a great question and I would be interested in knowing of there is a known spot for this.
Edit: Using this website, it looks like most of the central CA coast has sunset at the same time, so no specific point. However, according to the website, Point Reyes has sunset at least one minute later than all the other points I sampled along the coast. Yes, you can drive to the end of the road at the lighthouse - that may be the spot!
I’ve heard no less then 3 places on the east coast claim that title, Cadillac Mountain, ME, Mt Washington NH and some small township in Eastern ME along the Canadian boarder.
Mt Olympus has elevation 8000ft and is located at 123.7 deg.
Cape Alava* nearby (the most Westerly point in the contiguous mainland) is at 124.7 deg.
1 deg longitude corresponds to 4 minutes.
The 8,000ft elevation of Mt Olympus is not enough to offset the 4 minutes.
So I think Cape Alava sees the sun later.
I’m fairly sure the answer to the OP is either Cape Alava*, or an island if you’re counting islands. There are no mountains high enough and close enough to make the difference.
*or possibly Cape Flattery, there seems to be some confusion about which is further west, but they are both at sea level
I question this. I found what is likely the same source as you that says 5000’ of elevation results in a change of 1 minute in sunrise, but other sources differ. This one says sunset at the top of the Burj Khalifa (2700’) is 4 minutes 35 seconds later than sunset at sea level. My own “experiments” as a kid bear out the larger effect of elevation: I’d watch the sun set into a lake, then run up ~50’ of stairs and have time to watch it again.
I think the first calculation is for an observer at the same elevation as the horizon. This doesn’t hold true for an observer on a mountain top, where sunset will be much later.
If OP does want winter - being further south will win, it will be somewhere in California. Looking at the shape of coast and just spot checking a few points at today’s date (near the winter solstice) it looks like there’s a whole section of the CA coast from Cape Mendocino south to San Luis Obispo where the coastline runs SSE and the sunset times are almost exactly the same down the entire section - going further S is exactly offset by the coastline being slightly further E.
Whatever the effect of elevation, I’m with you that farther south wins out if we’re looking at winter sunset. I’d guess the latest sunset would be some ocean bluff west of Santa Barbara, before the west coast takes a sharp easterly turn toward Los Angeles.
No, I checked on this website at least, and it indicates Vandenberg AFB, which is west of Santa Barbara, sunset today 4:52pm (along with every other place along the westernmost coastal areas of CA), but Point Reyes, north of San Francisco, as I mentioned upthread, sunset is 4:53pm…
Point Reyes and the point SW of Vandenberg AFB both have sunset at exactly 4:53pm today, so I think that long stretch of coastline is all almost exactly the same. It would depend on the exact day, and as you say maybe whether there’s some coastal bluff that just makes the difference.
ninjaed by @snowthx - but check “Arlight CA” which appears to be the name of the point SW of Vandenberg AFB, and you get 4:53pm, exactly the same as Point Reyes to the minute!