Saint Croix Island International Historic Site is a International Historic Site in Maine. 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 Saint Croix Island
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Saint Croix Island. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Saint Croix Island the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:04 AM | 7:51 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:13 PM | 240° | 9h 08m |
| February | 6:31 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:56 PM | 253° | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:42 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:35 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:14 PM | 285° | 13h 30m |
| May | 5:00 AM | 5:43 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:51 PM | 298° | 14h 51m |
| June | 4:42 AM | 5:27 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:18 PM | 305° | 15h 37m |
| July | 4:56 AM | 5:40 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:14 PM | 302° | 15h 18m |
| August | 5:31 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:37 PM | 291° | 14h 06m |
| September | 6:08 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:42 PM | 275° | 12h 34m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:45 PM | 259° | 11h 00m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 7:12 AM | 3:16 PM | 4:01 PM | 244° | 9h 34m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:50 AM | 2:59 PM | 3:48 PM | 237° | 8h 47m |
Computed for the park's reference point (45.1286, -67.1336); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Saint Croix Island, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:34 AM – 4:54 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| April | 2:33 AM – 3:53 AM | 1.3 | 15° |
| May | 12:32 AM – 2:42 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| June | 10:54 PM – 2:04 AM | 3.2 | 16° |
| July | 10:37 PM – 12:47 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 10:44 PM | 1.2 | 15° |
| September | 8:23 PM – 8:43 PM | 0.3 | 12° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Located in Maine, Saint Croix Island experiences all four seasons. Summer temperatures range from 50-80F (10-27C). Fall temperatures range from 25-70F (-4-21C). Typically the first is in frost mid-October and first snowfall begins in November and can continue through April with an average accumulation of 67 inches (170 cm). Winter temperatures range from 5-30F (-15 - -1C). Spring temperatures range from 20-60F (-6-16C).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 56% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (70%). 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
Saint Croix Island International Historic Site is best reached by private vehicle. The site is located 8 miles (13 km) south of Calais, Maine, on US Route 1, and can be reached either by Route 9 from Bangor or US Route 1, the coastal route from Portland and points south. From US Route 1, turn onto St. Croix Drive. The entrance gate is on the right. The visitor center is inside the ranger station.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Paddling
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
Nearby parks
ME
ME
ME