Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River is a National Wild and Scenic River in Pennsylvania, New Jersey. 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 Lower Delaware 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 239° (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 | 7:22 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:58 PM | 243° | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:35 PM | 254° | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:07 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:39 PM | 284° | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:45 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:10 PM | 296° | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:30 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:32 PM | 302° | 15h 02m |
| July | 5:43 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:30 PM | 300° | 14h 47m |
| August | 6:12 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:59 PM | 289° | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:11 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:21 PM | 260° | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:04 PM | 4:44 PM | 246° | 9h 57m |
| December | 7:17 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:35 PM | 240° | 9h 18m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.4000, -74.9837); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Lower Delaware, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 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 6 (bright suburban 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 | 5:17 AM – 5:17 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:28 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:27 AM – 4:37 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:22 AM – 3:42 AM | 3.3 | 21° |
| June | 10:38 PM – 3:18 AM | 4.7 | 21° |
| July | 10:29 PM – 1:59 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 11:52 PM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:44 PM – 9:54 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 7:52 PM – 7:52 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Temperatures usually range from lows of 26 F to highs of 80 F with average rainfall of 5 inches. Summer: Temperatures usually range from lows of 55 F to highs of 85 F with average rainfall of 4 inches. Fall: Temperatures usually range from lows of 30 F to highs of 83F. Fall foliage is at its peak sometime in October as daily mountain temperatures vary frequently and influence the change. Winter: Temperatures usually range from lows of 15 F to highs of 49 F.
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 December 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 Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River is located between Interstate 80 (at Portland, Pennsylvania and Columbia, New Jersey) and Interstate 95 (at exit 51 in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania and exit 1 in Washington Crossing, New Jersey). In Pennsylvania, follow PA-611 and PA-32 to drive along the river. In New Jersey, follow NJ-29 south of Frenchtown for a drive along the river.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Junior Ranger Program
Nearby parks
MA/RI
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