Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in New York. 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 Eleanor Roosevelt the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (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 | 7:21 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:50 PM | 242° | 9h 29m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:29 PM | 254° | 10h 37m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:02 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:16 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:36 PM | 284° | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:09 PM | 297° | 14h 32m |
| June | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:33 PM | 303° | 15h 12m |
| July | 5:35 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:30 PM | 300° | 14h 55m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:57 PM | 290° | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:07 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:16 PM | 259° | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:46 AM | 7:27 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:37 PM | 246° | 9h 51m |
| December | 7:17 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:27 PM | 239° | 9h 10m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.7621, -73.8989); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Eleanor Roosevelt, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 1.0 | 16° |
| April | 2:27 AM – 4:27 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:35 AM – 3:35 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| June | 10:44 PM – 3:04 AM | 4.3 | 19° |
| July | 10:34 PM – 1:44 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| August | 9:44 PM – 11:44 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:42 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| 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 40°F to 70°F. Rain is not uncommon. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70° F to 100° F. Humidity can be high throughout the summer months with periods of rain. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40° F to 70° F. Peak leaf season is mid-October. Rain is not uncommon. Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30° F to 50°F. Ice, Freezing Rain and Snow are not uncommon.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (65%). 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
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) is located in the town of Hyde Park, NY, approximately 5 miles north of Poughkeepsie along Route 9G, midway between New York City and Albany, about a 1.5 hour drive from either direction. Located on the east bank of the Hudson River, the park is easily reached by either the Taconic State Parkway or Route 9, and the New York State Thruway west of the Hudson River.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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NY
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CT
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NY/PA