Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument — a dark sky place in Penobscot County, Maine — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 13.7 km (8.5 mi) WSW of Patten. It is certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a U.S. national monument spanning 87,563 acres (137 sq mi; 35,435 ha) of mountains and forestland in northern Penobscot County, Maine, including a section of the East Branch Penobscot River. The monument is located on the eastern border of Maine's Baxter State Park. Native animals include moose, bobcats, bald eagles, salmon, and Canada lynx.From the Wikipedia article “Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:39 AM | 90° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:45 AM | 54° NE | 8:29 PM | 306° NW | 67° | 15h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:22 AM | 89° E | 6:34 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 124° SE | 3:53 PM | 236° WSW | 21° | 8h 38m |
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
Certified dark sky places offer protected night skies — plan around the new moon and the Milky Way core season.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:40 AM | 7:13 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:16 PM | 4:49 PM | 9h 03m |
| February | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:32 PM | 10h 23m |
| March | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:40 PM | 7:10 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:18 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:52 PM | 13h 32m |
| May | 4:28 AM | 5:03 AM | 5:47 AM | 7:17 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:35 PM | 14h 57m |
| June | 4:06 AM | 4:44 AM | 5:30 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:06 PM | 15h 43m |
| July | 4:22 AM | 4:59 AM | 5:44 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:23 PM | 9:00 PM | 15h 24m |
| August | 5:02 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:18 PM | 14h 10m |
| September | 5:43 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:22 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:20 PM | 10h 58m |
| November | 6:03 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:21 AM | 3:19 PM | 4:04 PM | 4:37 PM | 9h 29m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:10 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:01 PM | 3:51 PM | 4:25 PM | 8h 40m |
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 Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 4:50 AM – 5:00 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:41 AM – 3:51 AM | 1.2 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 12:43 AM – 2:43 AM | 2.0 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:09 PM – 1:59 AM | 2.8 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:50 PM – 12:40 AM | 1.8 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:43 PM – 10:43 PM | 1.0 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:30 PM – 8:40 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.5+ 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 May as the cloudiest (70%). 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 | 53 | 48 | 73 | 76 | 83 | 93 | 92 | 90 | 89 | 79 | 67 | 58 |
| Low °F | -33 | -27 | -22 | 7 | 27 | 35 | 47 | 44 | 32 | 22 | 1 | -21 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
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 dark sky place
- Set focus on a bright star with live-view magnification, then tape the focus ring.
- Use the NPF rule below to choose the longest exposure before stars trail.
- Many parks host star parties and night programs during summer.
- Use the Milky Way table to find months and hours when the core is above the horizon.
- Use red light only and keep it pointed down to protect others' night vision.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Milky Way core season runs roughly March to October; winter offers long nights and bright winter constellations.
Suggested gear: Fast wide lens (f/1.4–f/2.8), Sturdy tripod, Red headlamp, Intervalometer. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, closest first.
WaterfallWaterfall
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument?
What time is golden hour at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument?
Where does the sun rise and set at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument?
Can you see the Milky Way from Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument?
How far is Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument from Patten?
Sources
Location data: DarkSky International (via 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.