Catoctin Mountain Park is a Park in Maryland. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Catoctin Mountain
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Catoctin Mountain. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Rock Formations (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Catoctin Mountain the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:30 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:10 PM | 243° | 9h 40m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:47 PM | 254° | 10h 43m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:48 PM | 284° | 13h 15m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:18 PM | 296° | 14h 21m |
| June | 5:42 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:40 PM | 302° | 14h 58m |
| July | 5:55 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:38 PM | 299° | 14h 42m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 289° | 13h 45m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:56 PM | 247° | 10h 01m |
| December | 7:24 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 240° | 9h 23m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.6507, -77.4642); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Catoctin Mountain, 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 5 (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 | 5:17 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| March | 4:27 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:24 AM – 4:54 AM | 2.5 | 21° |
| May | 12:28 AM – 3:58 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| June | 10:42 PM – 3:32 AM | 4.8 | 21° |
| July | 10:34 PM – 2:14 AM | 3.7 | 21° |
| August | 9:49 PM – 12:09 AM | 2.3 | 21° |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:12 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:12 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Summer (June-Aug) average temperature is between 61 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall (Sep-Nov) average temperature is between 45 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall foliage is at its peak in mid-October Winter (Dec-Feb) average temperature is between 24 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter snowfall is between 5-12" per month. Spring (March-May) average temperature is between 41 and 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Average precipitation is approximately 4 inches per month. (Source: usclimatedata.com)
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (66%). 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
To reach the visitor center from the east, follow US Route 15 to MD Route 77 and go west about 3 miles. The visitor center is on the right side of the road. From the west, take I 70 to MD 66 at exit 35. Turn left onto MD 66 north and travel about 5 miles, passing through the roundabout. Turn right onto MD 64 and drive 1 mile. Turn right onto MD 77. Drive on MD 77 about 7.5 miles. The visitor center is on the left.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- Climbing
- Compass and GPS
- Orienteering
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
PA
PA
MD
MD
WV/VA
DC/MD