Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail is a National Historic Trail in Alabama. 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 Selma To Montgomery the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:05 PM | 245° | 10h 16m |
| February | 6:30 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:33 PM | 256° | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:58 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:55 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:18 AM | 6:51 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:17 PM | 282° | 12h 58m |
| May | 5:50 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 293° | 13h 48m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:56 PM | 299° | 14h 15m |
| July | 5:51 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:55 PM | 296° | 14h 04m |
| August | 6:12 AM | 6:45 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:33 PM | 287° | 13h 21m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 7:04 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:55 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:16 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:52 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:48 PM | 249° | 10h 31m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:44 PM | 243° | 10h 03m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.2708, -86.7282); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Selma To Montgomery, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:16 AM – 5:06 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:27 AM – 5:27 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:22 AM – 4:42 AM | 3.3 | 29° |
| May | 11:22 PM – 4:12 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| June | 9:37 PM – 3:57 AM | 6.3 | 29° |
| July | 9:33 PM – 2:33 AM | 5.0 | 29° |
| August | 9:02 PM – 12:32 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| September | 8:17 PM – 10:27 PM | 2.2 | 26° |
| October | 7:37 PM – 8:27 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Depending on the season, temperatures can soar from the extremes of heat and humidity in the summer to damp, wet cold temperatures in the winter. During the summer season visitors should wear light, comfortable clothing, shoes and use sunscreen. High temperatures and humidity create higher risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. During the fall visitors should have a light jacket available as temperatures can drop suddenly. Winter temperatures can be range from mild to extremely cold.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (60%). 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
March Route - The National Historic Trail follows the actual march route which began at Brown Chapel, A.M.E. Church in Selma, AL, located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. Follow the Trail markers to U.S. Hwy. 80 through Lowndes County, AL. Continue on U.S. Hwy. 80 to Montgomery concluding at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, AL, located on Dexter Avenue.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Volunteer Vacation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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