Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a National Monument in Maine. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 4 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Katahdin Woods and Waters
We matched 4 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Katahdin Woods and Waters. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (3)
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Katahdin Woods and Waters 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° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:13 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:16 PM | 240° | 9h 03m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:01 PM | 253° | 10h 23m |
| March | 6:49 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:41 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:49 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:21 PM | 285° | 13h 32m |
| May | 5:04 AM | 5:47 AM | 7:17 PM | 8:00 PM | 299° | 14h 57m |
| June | 4:44 AM | 5:31 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:28 PM | 306° | 15h 43m |
| July | 4:59 AM | 5:44 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:23 PM | 303° | 15h 24m |
| August | 5:35 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:45 PM | 291° | 14h 10m |
| September | 6:14 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:48 PM | 275° | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:52 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:50 PM | 259° | 10h 58m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:21 AM | 3:19 PM | 4:05 PM | 244° | 9h 29m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:01 PM | 3:51 PM | 237° | 8h 40m |
Computed for the park's reference point (45.9568, -68.7123); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Katahdin Woods and Waters, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.8 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 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:51 AM – 5:01 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| April | 2:42 AM – 3:52 AM | 1.2 | 14° |
| May | 12:44 AM – 2:44 AM | 2.0 | 15° |
| June | 11:10 PM – 2:00 AM | 2.8 | 15° |
| July | 10:51 PM – 12:41 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| August | 9:44 PM – 10:44 PM | 1.0 | 14° |
| September | 8:31 PM – 8:41 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Northern Maine experiences all four seasons. Summer temperatures range from 45-90F (7-30C). Fall temperatures range from 30-70F (-1-21C). Typically, the first frost is in mid-October and first snowfall begins in November and can continue through April with an average accumulation of 73 inches (185 cm). Winter temperatures range from 14-35F (-10 - 2C). Spring temperatures range from 30-70F (-1-21C).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (70%). 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
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is located in north central Maine. Drive approximately 1.5 hours north of Bangor, Maine to reach Route 11 (Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway). Route 11 is the main route to the entrances to the park. Take Route 11 to Route 159 and Grand Lake Road to access the North Entrance. Follow Route 11 to Swift Brook Road to enter the South Entrance. Take Route 11 to Route 159 and American Thread Road to access the Seboeis Parcel.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
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