Johnstown Flood National Memorial is a National Memorial in Pennsylvania. 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 Johnstown Flood the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:37 AM | 8:19 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:13 PM | 243° | 9h 37m |
| February | 7:10 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:51 PM | 254° | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:28 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:22 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:54 PM | 284° | 13h 16m |
| May | 6:00 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:25 PM | 296° | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:26 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:47 PM | 302° | 15h 02m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:45 PM | 300° | 14h 47m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 289° | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:26 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:26 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:37 PM | 260° | 11h 10m |
| November | 7:02 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:59 PM | 246° | 9h 58m |
| December | 7:32 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:50 PM | 240° | 9h 19m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.3458, -78.7745); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Johnstown Flood, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° 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 | 5:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:43 AM – 5:53 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:41 AM – 4:51 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:36 AM – 4:06 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| June | 10:51 PM – 3:41 AM | 4.8 | 21° |
| July | 10:43 PM – 2:13 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:56 PM – 12:16 AM | 2.3 | 20° |
| September | 8:58 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 8:07 PM – 8:17 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| 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
Winters can be cold and severe. Spring can be seasonable and wet. Summer can be hot with potentials for thunderstorms. Fall can be seasonal, with cold temperatures into October and November.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (79%). 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 US Route 219 to the St Michael/Sidman exit. At the end of the exit ramp head East on PA 869 (there is a park sign at the end of the exit ramp). Travel approximately 1.5 miles on PA 869 watching for a left turn onto Lake Road at the sign for Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Follow Lake Road 1.5 miles until the visitor center appears on your right. Please park safely in the designated parking lot and not block any emergency access roads.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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