New England National Scenic Trail is a National Scenic Trail in Massachusetts, Connecticut. 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 New England
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to New England. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Mountain Peaks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At New England 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° (WNW) in June to 239° (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 | 7:17 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:43 PM | 242° | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:23 PM | 254° | 10h 35m |
| March | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:31 PM | 284° | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:05 PM | 297° | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:14 AM | 5:56 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:29 PM | 303° | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:27 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:26 PM | 301° | 14h 59m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:53 PM | 290° | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:10 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:41 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:30 PM | 246° | 9h 48m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:58 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:19 PM | 239° | 9h 06m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.2916, -72.5243); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From New England, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:30 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:23 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:32 AM – 3:22 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:42 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:32 PM – 1:32 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:40 PM – 11:30 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:37 PM – 9:27 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| 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
Temperatures range from warm, humid summer days to cold New England winter days.
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 (68%). 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
More than 100 public roads cross the New England Trail, and there are trail head parking areas at or near many of these crossings. Detailed Trail Maps are available from Appalachian Mountain Club and Connecticut Forest & Park Association. For Massachusetts maps, visit the AMC Berkshire Chapter; for Connecticut, visit the CFPA Bookstore. Direct access by bus is available at several points in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Train service is available at two points – in Guilford, CT and Northampton, MA.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Food
- Dining
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Snowshoeing
Nearby parks
MA
CT
NY
MA
RI/MA
RI