Bluestone National Scenic River is a National Scenic River in West Virginia. 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 Bluestone the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:38 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:30 PM | 244° | 9h 51m |
| February | 7:14 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:27 PM | 6:04 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:36 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:31 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:59 PM | 283° | 13h 10m |
| May | 6:16 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:27 PM | 295° | 14h 11m |
| June | 6:03 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:48 PM | 301° | 14h 45m |
| July | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:46 PM | 298° | 14h 31m |
| August | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:18 PM | 289° | 13h 38m |
| September | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:34 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:33 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:48 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 7:05 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:14 PM | 247° | 10h 10m |
| December | 7:32 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:07 PM | 241° | 9h 35m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.5658, -80.9837); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Bluestone, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:22 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:29 AM – 5:59 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:32 AM – 5:12 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:31 AM – 4:21 AM | 3.8 | 24° |
| June | 10:41 PM – 4:01 AM | 5.3 | 24° |
| July | 10:35 PM – 2:45 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:55 PM – 12:35 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 9:02 PM – 10:32 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:15 PM – 8:35 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Summer: Temperatures range from low to mid 60's at night to middle to upper 80's during the daytime hours. Winter: Temperatures average from the mid 20's to the mid 40's. Snowfall amount varies, but averages 5" per month Dec. - March. Spring and Fall: temperatures and rainfall variable. Peak fall foliage is usually mid-October.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (69%). 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
Bluestone National Scenic River is most easily accessed via Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park. A narrow, graveled park road provides access to the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at the former Lilly town site at the confluence of the Little Bluestone River. To reach these parks from I-64, take exit 139, then south on Rt. 20. From I-77 take exit 14 to Rt.20 north. Either direction, Bluestone State Park is 15 miles and Pipestem is 22 miles.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
WV
WV
VA
NC
VA