Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park is a 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 nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Cedar Creek & Belle Grove 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:31 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:15 PM | 243° | 9h 44m |
| February | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:51 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:50 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:20 PM | 296° | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:48 AM | 6:28 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:41 PM | 302° | 14h 53m |
| July | 6:00 AM | 6:40 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:39 PM | 299° | 14h 39m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:10 PM | 289° | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:55 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:23 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:36 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:57 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:01 PM | 247° | 10h 04m |
| December | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:53 PM | 240° | 9h 27m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.0094, -78.3062); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cedar Creek & Belle Grove, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:20 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:29 AM – 5:49 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:25 AM – 4:55 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:27 AM – 4:07 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:40 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:33 PM – 2:23 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:49 PM – 12:19 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:54 PM – 10:14 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 8:05 PM – 8:15 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers in Virginia are often very hot with high heat indexes. Check the weather in advance of your trip, and plan accordingly. Dress for the heat and for sun protection. Pack lots of water. The Shenandoah Valley experiences temperate spring and fall seasons and winters with snowfall and cold temperatures.
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 (72%). 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
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is along U.S. Route 11 in Middletown, Virginia. Take exit 302 off Interstate 81 to Middletown. The Visitor Center is at 7712 Main Street in Middletown Courts Plaza.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
VA
WV/VA
DC/MD
VA
MD
MD