Valley Forge National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Pennsylvania. 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 Valley Forge
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Valley Forge. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Valley Forge 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 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:23 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:01 PM | 243° | 9h 38m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:38 PM | 254° | 10h 42m |
| March | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:09 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:40 PM | 284° | 13h 16m |
| May | 5:47 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:11 PM | 296° | 14h 24m |
| June | 5:33 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:33 PM | 302° | 15h 00m |
| July | 5:46 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:31 PM | 300° | 14h 45m |
| August | 6:14 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:00 PM | 289° | 13h 46m |
| September | 6:43 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:12 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:24 PM | 260° | 11h 11m |
| November | 6:48 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:47 PM | 246° | 9h 59m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 8:01 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:38 PM | 240° | 9h 20m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.1005, -75.4458); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Valley Forge, 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 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 5:09 AM – 5:19 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| March | 4:19 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:17 AM – 4:37 AM | 2.3 | 21° |
| May | 12:21 AM – 3:51 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 3:26 AM | 4.8 | 21° |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:58 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:02 AM | 2.3 | 21° |
| September | 8:45 PM – 9:55 PM | 1.2 | 18° |
| October | 7:54 PM – 8:04 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Winters at Valley Forge are cold and damp with a cool spring and fall and a hot and humid summer. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended for outdoor recreation during the snowy winter season. Find more detailed weather information on the Weather page.
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 (68%). 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 park is conveniently located off of U.S. Route 422. The main entrance to the park is at the intersection of State Route 23 and North Gulph Road. From the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take Exit 326. From Interstate I-76, take Route 422 West to Route 23 West/Valley Forge. From State Route 252, take State Route 23 East.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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