Esopus Meadows Light is a lighthouse in Ulster County, New York. It sits roughly 5.0 km (3.1 mi) SE of Port Ewen. Its recorded tower height is about 17 m (56 ft). It dates from 1839. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, nicknamed "Maid of the Meadows" and often simply referred to as the Esopus Light or Middle Hudson River Light is an active lighthouse on the Hudson River near Esopus, New York. The lighthouse stands on the west side of the channel, in the river, its granite foundation built atop piles that have been driven into the riverbed, and is accessible only by boat. Construction of the first lighthouse on the site began in 1838 when the land was ceded for $1.00 by the town of Esopus to the US government and the US government appropriated $6,000 to build the light. The light became active in 1839. It was a twin to the Rondout II lighthouse further north up the Hudson River. By 1867, however, the building was heavily damaged by flood and ice and funds for a new lighthouse were appropriated in 1870.From the Wikipedia article “Esopus Meadows Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Esopus Meadows Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 90° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:22 AM | 57° ENE | 8:35 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 14m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:44 AM | 89° E | 6:55 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:21 AM | 122° ESE | 4:28 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 08m |
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
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:51 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 28m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 6:41 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:30 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:47 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:05 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:41 PM | 14h 33m |
| June | 4:47 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:08 PM | 15h 12m |
| July | 5:01 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:35 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:35 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:40 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:28 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:36 PM | 5:06 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 6:46 AM | 7:17 AM | 8:02 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 09m |
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 Esopus Meadows Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:27 AM – 4:27 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:35 AM – 3:35 AM | 3.0 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:44 PM – 3:04 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:34 PM – 1:44 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:44 PM – 11:44 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:42 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.02 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 50% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (65%). 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 | 66 | 70 | 73 | 91 | 87 | 95 | 101 | 102 | 96 | 88 | 76 | 69 |
| Low °F | -16 | -15 | -8 | 18 | 30 | 38 | 49 | 50 | 37 | 21 | 6 | -2 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
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 lighthouse
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Kingston, 6.5 km (4.1 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Esopus Meadows Light, closest first.
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Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Esopus Meadows Light?
What time is golden hour at Esopus Meadows Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Esopus Meadows Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Esopus Meadows Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Esopus Meadows Light?
How far is Esopus Meadows Light from Port Ewen?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, 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.