Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in New Jersey, Pennsylvania. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 8 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Delaware Water Gap
We matched 8 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Delaware Water Gap. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (7)
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfall
WaterfallFire Lookouts (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Delaware Water Gap the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:56 PM | 242° | 9h 32m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:34 PM | 254° | 10h 39m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:07 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:40 PM | 284° | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:43 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:11 PM | 296° | 14h 29m |
| June | 5:27 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:35 PM | 303° | 15h 07m |
| July | 5:41 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:32 PM | 300° | 14h 51m |
| August | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:22 PM | 8:00 PM | 290° | 13h 50m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:11 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:21 PM | 259° | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:48 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 246° | 9h 54m |
| December | 7:19 AM | 8:03 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:33 PM | 239° | 9h 14m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.1279, -74.9475); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Delaware Water Gap, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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 – 5:17 AM | 0.0 | 10° |
| March | 4:29 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:29 AM – 4:39 AM | 2.2 | 19° |
| May | 12:26 AM – 3:46 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 10:44 PM – 3:14 AM | 4.5 | 20° |
| July | 10:34 PM – 1:54 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 9:45 PM – 11:45 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | 7:52 PM – 7:52 PM | 0.0 | 10° |
| 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
Spring: Temperatures usually range from lows of 26 F to highs of 80 F with average rainfall of 5 inches. Summer: Temperatures usually range from lows of 55 F to highs of 85 F with average rainfall of 4 inches. Fall: Temperatures usually range from lows of 30 F to highs of 83F. Fall foliage is at its peak sometime in October as daily mountain temperatures vary frequently and influence the change. Winter: Temperatures usually range from lows of 15 F to highs of 49 F.
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 (70%). 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $10.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a long, narrow park that sits between two major interstates, I-80 at the south and I-84 at the north. US 209 is the main north/south road through the park on the Pennsylvania side and Old Mine Road is the main north/south road though the park on the New Jersey side.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
Nearby parks
NJ
NY/PA
PA
NJ
NJ
PA/NJ