Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Pennsylvania. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Allegheny Portage Railroad 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 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:36 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:12 PM | 243° | 9h 36m |
| February | 7:09 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:50 PM | 254° | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:27 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:21 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:53 PM | 284° | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:24 PM | 296° | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:44 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:47 PM | 302° | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:37 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:44 PM | 300° | 14h 47m |
| August | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:14 PM | 289° | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:56 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:25 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:26 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:36 PM | 260° | 11h 10m |
| November | 7:01 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:58 PM | 246° | 9h 57m |
| December | 7:31 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:49 PM | 240° | 9h 18m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.4298, -78.5743); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Allegheny Portage Railroad, 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 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:31 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:42 AM – 5:52 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:41 AM – 4:51 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:36 AM – 3:56 AM | 3.3 | 21° |
| June | 10:52 PM – 3:32 AM | 4.7 | 21° |
| July | 10:43 PM – 2:13 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:56 PM – 12:06 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:58 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:06 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
The park is located in Cambria County, PA, and is at the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. Therefore, the park often takes on winter extremes. If planning on traveling from a long distance, please contact the park beforehand to ensure that the facilities are open. Please consult weather forecasts to ensure conditions are safe to travel in. Spring, summer, and fall are generally uneventful, but severe thunderstorms can occur.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (79%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. 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.
Getting there
The park is located just off U.S. Route 22 approximately 12 miles west of Altoona and 10 miles east of Ebensburg. Take the Gallitzin Exit and turn right, following the signs. Visitors prior to 1992 accessed the park in other ways, but the Gallitzin Exit of US Route 22 is the way to access the visitor center and historic area.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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