Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Montana. 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 Grant-Kohrs Ranch the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:11 AM | 8:59 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:11 PM | 240° | 9h 00m |
| February | 7:35 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:57 PM | 253° | 10h 21m |
| March | 7:45 AM | 8:25 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:37 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:45 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:19 PM | 285° | 13h 34m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:58 PM | 299° | 15h 00m |
| June | 5:39 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:39 PM | 9:26 PM | 306° | 15h 47m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:39 AM | 8:36 PM | 9:21 PM | 303° | 15h 27m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:42 PM | 292° | 14h 12m |
| September | 7:10 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:44 PM | 275° | 12h 35m |
| October | 7:49 AM | 8:30 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:46 PM | 259° | 10h 57m |
| November | 7:34 AM | 8:20 AM | 4:13 PM | 5:00 PM | 244° | 9h 26m |
| December | 8:09 AM | 8:59 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:45 PM | 236° | 8h 37m |
Computed for the park's reference point (46.4136, -112.7467); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Grant-Kohrs Ranch, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:48 AM – 5:58 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| April | 3:50 AM – 4:50 AM | 1.0 | 14° |
| May | 1:45 AM – 3:35 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| June | 12:15 AM – 2:45 AM | 2.5 | 15° |
| July | 11:53 PM – 1:33 AM | 1.7 | 15° |
| August | 10:42 PM – 11:32 PM | 0.8 | 13° |
| September | 9:28 PM – 9:28 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| 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
Spring: Temperatures can fluctuate greatly. Sub-freezing temperatures in the morning can give way to mild days. Snow in early spring, rain in late season. Summer: Temperatures can average 70-80 F, but can reach highs of 100 F. Rain rare. Dry and hot. Fall: Temperatures can fluctuate greatly. Sub-freezing mornings can give way to mild days. Rain in early fall likely. Winter: Temperature can fall to -30 F, with highs of 10-20 F. Snow is possible. Cold weather gear is highly recommended.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (75%). July is the warmest month and December 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
Arriving from the east: Take Interstate 90, exit 187. Drive through town, approximately 2.5 miles. Turn left onto Grant Circle and enter the park. Arriving from the west: Take Interstate 90, exit 184. Turn right. Drive approximately 3/4 of a mile. Turn right on to Grant Circle and enter the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
