Located in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 1.4 km (0.9 mi) S of New Cumberland.
The Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve is a 35 acres (14 ha) nature preserve and memorial site in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, U.S. The arboretum features woodlands, hiking trails, memorials to a World War II aviator who crashed on the site, and a Path of Leadership honoring past leaders of the local community. The arboretum is located at 1841 Brookview Drive in New Cumberland. The property is bounded by the Yellow Breeches Creek to the south, Interstate 83 to the west, the Beacon Hill development to the east and Simson Ferry Road to the north. It is open to the public daily from dawn until dusk.From the Wikipedia article “Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:12 AM | 90° E | 7:20 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:39 AM | 58° ENE | 8:41 PM | 302° WNW | 73° | 15h 02m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:56 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:27 AM | 121° ESE | 4:45 PM | 240° WSW | 26° | 9h 18m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 37m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:43 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 42m |
| March | 6:53 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:42 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:02 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:14 PM | 13h 16m |
| May | 5:22 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 24m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:12 PM | 15h 01m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 46m |
| August | 5:50 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:57 PM | 11h 11m |
| November | 6:25 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 58m |
| December | 6:53 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:14 PM | 9h 20m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:25 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:36 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:34 AM – 4:44 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:29 AM – 3:59 AM | 3.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:44 PM – 3:34 AM | 4.8 | 21° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:36 PM – 2:06 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:49 PM – 12:09 AM | 2.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:51 PM – 10:01 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:00 PM – 8:10 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.85 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (71%). July 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 | 64 | 73 | 77 | 88 | 91 | 95 | 103 | 101 | 96 | 93 | 78 | 71 |
| Low °F | -9 | -12 | -8 | 21 | 28 | 41 | 49 | 49 | 38 | 24 | 11 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
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 botanical garden
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Covered Bridge
Cave
State Park
State Park
WaterfallScenic Viewpoint
Botanical GardenScenic ViewpointFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve?
What time is golden hour at Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve?
Where does the sun rise and set at Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve?
Can you see the Milky Way from Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve?
How far is Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve from New Cumberland?
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.