Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River is a Scenic & Recreational River in New York, Pennsylvania. 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 Upper Delaware the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:55 PM | 242° | 9h 29m |
| February | 6:57 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:34 PM | 254° | 10h 37m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:07 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:41 PM | 284° | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:42 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:13 PM | 297° | 14h 32m |
| June | 5:26 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:37 PM | 303° | 15h 11m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:34 PM | 300° | 14h 55m |
| August | 6:09 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:02 PM | 290° | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:18 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:12 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:20 PM | 259° | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:41 PM | 246° | 9h 51m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:06 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:31 PM | 239° | 9h 11m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.6617, -75.0386); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Upper Delaware, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:30 AM – 5:30 AM | 1.0 | 16° |
| April | 2:31 AM – 4:31 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:39 AM – 3:39 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| June | 10:48 PM – 3:08 AM | 4.3 | 19° |
| July | 10:38 PM – 1:48 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| August | 9:48 PM – 11:48 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:46 PM – 9:46 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Temperatures usually range from lows of 26°F to highs of 80°F with average rainfall of 5 inches. Summer: Temperatures usually range from lows of 55°F to highs of 85°F with average rainfall of 4 inches. Fall: Temperatures usually range from lows of 30°F to highs of 83°F. Fall foliage is at its peak sometime in October as daily mountain temperatures vary frequently and influence the change. Winter: Temperatures usually range from lows of 15°F to highs of 49°F.
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 December as the cloudiest (76%). 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
Many routes will bring you into the river corridor. New York Scenic Route 97 runs parallel to the river and connects Port Jervis, NY and Hancock, NY at each end of Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. To the Zane Grey Museum: From NY 97, turn onto the Roebling Delaware Aqueduct and then turn right onto Scenic Drive. The museum will be located on the right. See complete directions on Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River's Directions webpage.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Whitewater Rafting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Tubing
- River Tubing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
PA
NJ/PA
NY
NY
NY
NJ