Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Maryland. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:08 PM | 243° | 9h 47m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:43 PM | 255° | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:12 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:41 PM | 283° | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:10 PM | 295° | 14h 15m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:31 PM | 301° | 14h 50m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:29 PM | 299° | 14h 36m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:00 PM | 289° | 13h 41m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:28 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:53 PM | 247° | 10h 06m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 241° | 9h 30m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.4549, -76.1373); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:02 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| March | 4:21 AM – 5:41 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:16 AM – 4:46 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:17 AM – 4:07 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:29 PM – 3:39 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:12 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| August | 9:40 PM – 12:10 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:45 PM – 10:15 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 7:56 PM – 8:16 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| 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
Cambridge, Maryland generally experiences warm, humid summers and mild winters. Average summertime highs are in the 80s, with evening lows in the 60s. Winter temperatures usually range from the 30s to the 50s. Spring and fall are variable, but tend to be in the 50s and 60s. Precipitation is spread throughout the year. For more information, see: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.37100441991913&lon=-76.13347536809295#.WCNeYWorLIU
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 January as the cloudiest (61%). 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
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center is located approximately 11 miles south of Cambridge, Maryland. From US 50, turn south on Route 16. Follow Route 16 to Church Creek about 7 miles; turn south on Route 335 / Golden Hill Road. Follow Route 335 about 4.5 miles, and the visitor center is on the right. Latitude/Longitude: 38.4445934, -76.1426984
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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