Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Harpers Ferry
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Harpers Ferry. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Mountain Passes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Harpers Ferry the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:30 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:12 PM | 243° | 9h 42m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:48 PM | 254° | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 284° | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:18 PM | 296° | 14h 20m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:40 PM | 302° | 14h 55m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:38 PM | 299° | 14h 41m |
| August | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 289° | 13h 44m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:21 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:21 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:34 PM | 260° | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:58 PM | 247° | 10h 02m |
| December | 7:24 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 240° | 9h 25m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.3187, -77.7409); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Harpers Ferry, 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 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 | 5:18 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:27 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:24 AM – 4:54 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:26 AM – 4:06 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:40 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:32 PM – 2:12 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| August | 9:48 PM – 12:18 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:12 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:13 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
Harpers Ferry experiences all four seasons - the cold and snow of winter, the rain and flowers of spring, the humidity and sunshine of summer, and the chill and leaf change of fall. We will strive to keep you up-to-date as Harpers Ferry's landscape changes with the seasons. To see the current weather or the forecasted weather for Harpers Ferry, please visit the National Weather Service site and set the zip code to 25425.
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 (66%). 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 | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Harpers Ferry NHP's Visitor Center is located off of US Route 340 in West Virginia. The park entrance is 8 miles east of Charles Town, WV and 20 miles southwest of Frederick, MD.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Living History
- Junior Ranger Program
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
MD
DC/MD
MD
MD
DC/MD
VA