Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Ohio. 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 Hopewell Culture 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 | 7:51 AM | 8:32 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:33 PM | 243° | 9h 42m |
| February | 7:25 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:10 PM | 255° | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:45 AM | 8:20 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:40 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:56 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:10 PM | 284° | 13h 14m |
| May | 6:20 AM | 6:58 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:39 PM | 296° | 14h 20m |
| June | 6:06 AM | 6:46 AM | 8:21 PM | 9:01 PM | 302° | 14h 55m |
| July | 6:19 AM | 6:58 AM | 8:20 PM | 8:59 PM | 299° | 14h 40m |
| August | 6:46 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:30 PM | 289° | 13h 44m |
| September | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:43 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:43 AM | 8:19 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:55 PM | 260° | 11h 12m |
| November | 7:17 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:19 PM | 247° | 10h 02m |
| December | 7:46 AM | 8:28 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:11 PM | 240° | 9h 25m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.3159, -83.0805); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Hopewell Culture, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:39 AM – 5:49 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:48 AM – 6:08 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:45 AM – 5:15 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:47 AM – 4:27 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 11:01 PM – 4:01 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:53 PM – 2:33 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| August | 10:09 PM – 12:39 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 9:13 PM – 10:33 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 8:24 PM – 8:34 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 30 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with an average temperature around 75 degrees (F). Average annual total rainfall is just under 38". Snowfall in the winter is generally light with an average total snowfall of less than 24".
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (77%). 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 U.S. 23. Exit U.S. 23 at State Route 207 and turn right. Continue on S.R. 207 for 2 miles until it merges with S.R. 104 (Make no turns, continue straight on road as it turns into S.R. 104). Follow S.R. 104, turn left into park (approximately 1.8 miles past the S.R. 104 & S.R. 207 intersection), follow entrance road to visitor center.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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