Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a National Scenic Trail in District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia. 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 Potomac Heritage the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:29 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:12 PM | 243° | 9h 43m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:47 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:47 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:17 PM | 296° | 14h 19m |
| June | 5:44 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:39 PM | 302° | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:36 PM | 299° | 14h 40m |
| August | 6:24 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:07 PM | 289° | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:33 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:54 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:57 PM | 247° | 10h 03m |
| December | 7:23 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 240° | 9h 26m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.1506, -77.5230); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Potomac Heritage, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 – 5:27 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:53 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:25 AM – 4:05 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:39 PM – 3:39 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:31 PM – 2:11 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| August | 9:47 PM – 12:17 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:51 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:12 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
Weather associated with the PHT network is typical of a temperate climate, with four distinct seasons and variable precipitation throughout the year. Temperatures can vary from a high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to 0 degrees in the winter.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (66%). 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 administrative office for the NPS Potomac Heritage NST is located at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park headquarters.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
Nearby parks
MD
WV/VA
DC/MD
VA
VA
VA