Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Massachusetts. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 13 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Boston Harbor Islands
We matched 13 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Boston Harbor Islands. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Beaches (3)
Lighthouses (7)
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LighthouseState Parks (3)
State Park
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State ParkSunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Boston Harbor Islands 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 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:37 PM | 242° | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:16 PM | 254° | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:50 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:25 PM | 284° | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 6:04 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:59 PM | 297° | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:07 AM | 5:50 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:23 PM | 303° | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:20 PM | 301° | 14h 59m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:47 PM | 290° | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 7:01 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:55 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:03 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:17 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:23 PM | 246° | 9h 48m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:52 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:13 PM | 239° | 9h 06m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.3091, -70.9394); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Boston Harbor Islands, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 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 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:16 AM – 4:16 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:26 AM – 3:16 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 2:46 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 1:26 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 11:24 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:31 PM – 9:21 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
The Boston Harbor Islands have a humid maritime climate characterized by slightly cooler temperatures than the mainland, so dress in layers. Typical summer conditions feature air temperatures approximately 5-10 degrees cooler than the mainland, winds of 0-15 knots and waves of 1-3 feet.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (70%). August 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
There are many ways to enjoy Boston Harbor Islands and many ways to get there. For more information on how to get to the park by ferry, car, or private boat, please visit www.bostonharborislands.org.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Live Music
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Living History
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
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