Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument is a National Monument 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 Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School 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 240° (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 | 7:30 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:07 PM | 243° | 9h 37m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:45 PM | 254° | 10h 42m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:16 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:47 PM | 284° | 13h 16m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:18 PM | 296° | 14h 24m |
| June | 5:39 AM | 6:20 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:41 PM | 302° | 15h 01m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:38 PM | 300° | 14h 46m |
| August | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:08 PM | 289° | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:30 PM | 260° | 11h 11m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:53 PM | 246° | 9h 58m |
| December | 7:25 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:45 PM | 240° | 9h 20m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.2094, -77.1797); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 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 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 | 5:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:37 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:35 AM – 4:45 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:00 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| June | 10:45 PM – 3:35 AM | 4.8 | 21° |
| July | 10:37 PM – 2:07 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:50 PM – 12:10 AM | 2.3 | 20° |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:02 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:11 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| 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
Winter: Generally, cooler weather starts in September. The first snowfall often occurs in mid-October and can extend through mid-April. Spring: During the spring months, temperatures typically range from the 50s-70s. Summer: June through August are seasonably warm with high humidity and temperatures in the 80s and 90s. Fall: Generally, cooler weather starts in September. The first snowfall occurs in mid-October and can extend through mid-April.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (74%). 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
From 1-76 take Exit 226 or from I-80 take exit 52 onto US-11 towards Carlisle. Turn left on Harmony Road. Turn right on Claremont Road. Turn left on Jim Thorpe & Claremont roads towards Carlisle Barracks’ security checkpoint. Use the left-most lane to be directed to the Visitor Center to check in.
Directions: National Park Service.
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