Fort Stanwix National Monument is a National Monument 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 Fort Stanwix the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:32 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:52 PM | 241° | 9h 20m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:33 PM | 254° | 10h 32m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:08 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:44 PM | 284° | 13h 24m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:19 PM | 297° | 14h 40m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 6:06 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:44 PM | 304° | 15h 22m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:41 PM | 301° | 15h 05m |
| August | 6:08 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:06 PM | 290° | 13h 58m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:14 PM | 275° | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:21 PM | 259° | 11h 05m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:38 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:39 PM | 245° | 9h 44m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:14 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:28 PM | 238° | 9h 00m |
Computed for the park's reference point (43.2105, -75.4556); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fort Stanwix, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:44 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.8 | 14° |
| April | 2:48 AM – 4:28 AM | 1.7 | 17° |
| May | 12:51 AM – 3:31 AM | 2.7 | 18° |
| June | 11:04 PM – 2:54 AM | 3.8 | 18° |
| July | 10:52 PM – 1:42 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| August | 9:56 PM – 11:36 PM | 1.7 | 17° |
| September | 8:51 PM – 9:31 PM | 0.7 | 14° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| 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
The Park lies within a temperate zone and experiences four full seasons. Summer can become very hot and humid. Snow is common as late as May and as early as October. The fort area can become muddy in all seasons. With most activities outdoors, good closed-toe walking shoes and low heels are advised. Air conditioning and heating is limited to park visitor center most times in the year. Water and extra layers of clothing in all seasons are always recommended!
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 (84%). 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
Take I-90 (NY Thruway) to Exit 33 (Verona-Rome). Turn Right onto Rt. 365 E. Follow Rt. 365, veering left as Rt. 365 merges with Rt 69 at the fork in the road. This will take you over an arterial bridge into the City of Rome. Fort Stanwix NM will be across Erie Blvd. on the right side of James Street.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Snow Play
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
NY
NY
NY
NY
NY
NY/PA