Cape Henry Memorial Part of Colonial National Historical Park is a Part of Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Cape Henry Memorial
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Cape Henry Memorial. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Cape Henry Memorial the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:11 PM | 244° | 9h 54m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:45 PM | 255° | 10h 51m |
| March | 7:16 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:12 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:31 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:39 PM | 283° | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:57 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 295° | 14h 08m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:26 PM | 301° | 14h 41m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 298° | 14h 27m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:57 PM | 288° | 13h 35m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:13 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:29 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:56 PM | 247° | 10h 13m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:49 PM | 241° | 9h 39m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.9278, -76.0088); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cape Henry Memorial, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 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 6 (bright suburban 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 | 5:02 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.3 | 14° |
| March | 4:08 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:01 AM – 4:51 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 12:08 AM – 4:08 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:18 PM – 3:48 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:12 PM – 2:22 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:33 PM – 12:23 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:21 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:55 PM – 8:25 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 80 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 80 F to 100 F. Rain and sun are equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared with plenty of water . Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 70 F. Winter: Temperatures range from 40 F to 20 F. Be prepared with cold weather gear and numerous layers if you intend to be outside.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (57%). 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
Located on the south side of the Chesapeake Bay, Cape Henry Memorial sits within the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. From Interstate 64 E take exit 282 to merge onto US-13N/Northhampton Boulevard towards the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Then take US-60 E/Shore Drive exit toward Beaches, this is the last exit before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Follow Shore Drive and turn left onto Atlantic Ave and proceed to Gate 8. Follow Atlantic Ave to Cape Henry Memorial.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Nearby parks
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