Located in Essex County, New Jersey, Hobart Gap is a mountain pass. It sits roughly 2.0 km (1.2 mi) SW of Short Hills.
The Hobart Gap is a pass and road through the Watchung Mountains in Northern New Jersey. During the American Revolutionary War, Hessian General Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen attempted to seize the Hobart Gap, now crossed by present-day Route 24, in order to attack the American headquarters in Morristown for the British. He was met with successful resistance by General Nathanael Greene, and was eventually defeated by the Continental Army and the New Jersey Militia at the Battle of Springfield.From the Wikipedia article “Hobart Gap”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hobart Gap 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 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (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) | 7:02 AM | 90° E | 7:10 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:27 AM | 58° ENE | 8:33 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 06m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:46 AM | 89° E | 6:56 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:19 AM | 121° ESE | 4:34 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 15m |
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
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 35m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:32 PM | 6:01 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 6:43 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:32 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:51 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:10 AM | 5:41 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:39 PM | 14h 27m |
| June | 4:53 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:04 PM | 15h 05m |
| July | 5:07 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 49m |
| August | 5:39 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:11 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:36 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:19 PM | 6:46 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:10 PM | 9h 56m |
| December | 6:44 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:59 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:32 PM | 5:02 PM | 9h 16m |
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 Hobart Gap, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:14 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:25 AM – 4:35 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:20 AM – 3:40 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:37 PM – 3:17 AM | 4.7 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:48 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:40 PM – 11:50 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 9:51 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:49 PM – 7:49 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SW → SW |
| 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: 9 Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 17.99 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 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 67 | 71 | 73 | 91 | 88 | 96 | 102 | 101 | 96 | 92 | 75 | 71 |
| Low °F | -2 | -3 | 0 | 24 | 33 | 44 | 52 | 53 | 43 | 28 | 14 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 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 mountain pass
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Warm layers, Road-condition app. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Hobart Gap, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
WaterfallWaterfall
Ghost Town
Botanical Garden
National Wildlife Refuge
Botanical Garden
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hobart Gap?
What time is golden hour at Hobart Gap?
Where does the sun rise and set at Hobart Gap?
Can you see the Milky Way from Hobart Gap?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hobart Gap?
How far is Hobart Gap from Short Hills?
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.