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New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve Photography Guide

National Reserve · New Jersey

  • Bortle 6
  • 0 photo spots
  • Clearest: September

New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve is a National Reserve in 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.

This is truly a special place. It's classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and in 1978 was established by Congress as the country’s first National Reserve. It includes portions of seven southern New Jersey counties, and encompasses over one-million acres of farms, forests and wetlands. It contains 56 communities, from hamlets to suburbs, with over 700,000 permanent residents.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
0
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 6
Bright suburban sky
Clearest month
September
50% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Magnolia
3.3 km (2.1 mi)

Light at New Jersey Pinelands

Live
Sunrise
7:15 AM
Sunset
6:13 PM
Golden hour AM
6:58 AM – 7:52 AM
Golden hour PM
5:36 PM – 6:30 PM
Blue hour AM
6:47 AM – 6:58 AM
Blue hour PM
6:30 PM – 6:41 PM
Full darkness
7:43 PM – 5:45 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:26 PM / 1:12 AM
Day length
10h 59m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At New Jersey Pinelands 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 27° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:19 AM8:00 AM4:16 PM4:58 PM243°9h 39m
February6:52 AM7:30 AM4:57 PM5:35 PM254°10h 42m
March7:11 AM7:47 AM6:30 PM7:06 PM268°11h 55m
April6:21 AM6:58 AM7:00 PM7:37 PM284°13h 15m
May5:44 AM6:23 AM7:28 PM8:07 PM296°14h 23m
June5:30 AM6:11 AM7:49 PM8:29 PM302°14h 59m
July5:43 AM6:23 AM7:47 PM8:27 PM299°14h 44m
August6:11 AM6:48 AM7:20 PM7:57 PM289°13h 46m
September6:40 AM7:16 AM6:33 PM7:09 PM275°12h 29m
October7:09 AM7:46 AM5:44 PM6:20 PM260°11h 11m
November6:44 AM7:24 AM4:04 PM4:44 PM246°9h 59m
December7:14 AM7:57 AM3:52 PM4:35 PM240°9h 21m

Computed for the park's reference point (39.9384, -74.6250); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From New Jersey Pinelands, 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 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:05 AM – 5:15 AM0.211°
March4:15 AM – 5:35 AM1.318°
April2:13 AM – 4:33 AM2.321°
May12:17 AM – 3:47 AM3.521°
June10:32 PM – 3:22 AM4.821°
July10:24 PM – 1:54 AM3.521°
August9:38 PM – 11:58 PM2.321°
September8:41 PM – 9:51 PM1.218°
October7:50 PM – 8:00 PM0.211°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot 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: 50-70F, sunny with some rain Summer: 70-90F, mostly sunny with some rain Winter: 0-35F, snow is common Fall: 50-70F

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (62%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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 Pinelands National Reserve includes portions of seven southern New Jersey counties, and encompasses over one-million acres of farms, forests and wetlands. It contains 56 communities, from hamlets to suburbs, with over 700,000 permanent residents.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Camping

Nearby parks

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic TrailMA/RI
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail26 km away · National Historic Trail
Gloria Dei Church National Historic SitePA
Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site44 km away · National Historic Site
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National MemorialPA
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial45 km away · National Memorial
Independence National Historical ParkPA
Independence National Historical Park45 km away · National Historical Park
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic SitePA
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site45 km away · National Historic Site
Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic RiverPA/NJ
Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River60 km away · National Wild and Scenic River

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in New Jersey Pinelands?
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.
Can you fly a drone in New Jersey Pinelands?
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.
Can you see the Milky Way in New Jersey Pinelands?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 6.
What time is sunset in New Jersey Pinelands?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:20 PM local time; see the live widget for today.