Lowell National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Massachusetts. 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 Lowell
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Lowell. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Lowell the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:13 AM | 7:57 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:37 PM | 242° | 9h 24m |
| February | 6:43 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:17 PM | 254° | 10h 34m |
| March | 6:58 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:52 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:05 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:27 PM | 284° | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:20 PM | 8:01 PM | 297° | 14h 37m |
| June | 5:08 AM | 5:51 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:26 PM | 304° | 15h 18m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:22 PM | 301° | 15h 01m |
| August | 5:53 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:49 PM | 290° | 13h 56m |
| September | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:05 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 7:20 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:24 PM | 245° | 9h 46m |
| December | 7:09 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:13 PM | 239° | 9h 04m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.6455, -71.3159); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Lowell, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:16 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:29 AM – 4:19 AM | 1.8 | 18° |
| May | 12:30 AM – 3:20 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| June | 10:42 PM – 2:42 AM | 4.0 | 18° |
| July | 10:31 PM – 1:21 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| August | 9:37 PM – 11:27 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:33 PM – 9:23 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
Summer: Throughout the summer, temperatures range from the mid 60s to mid 90s during the day, with rain and thunderstorms more common in the months of July and August. Boats and trolleys operate rain or shine and are only cancelled in cases of extreme weather or the presence of thunder and lightning. Winter: Winters are typically cold with temperatures in the mid 30s and 40s (with occasional single digit temperatures) and snow storms with a few inches accumulation occur frequently throughout the season.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (64%). 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 Boott Cotton Mills Museum is located at 115 John Street. Paid parking is available across the street from the museum in the Joseph Downes Garage located at 75 John Street. Click the link below for more detailed directions.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Boat Tour
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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