Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park — a state park in Worcester County, Massachusetts — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Uxbridge, about 2.8 km (1.7 mi) away (Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park lies NE of town).
The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park is a part of the state park system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. This 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) park "recalls the role of canals in transporting raw materials and manufactured goods between emerging industrial centers." The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, is the midpoint of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor of the National Park System. The Blackstone River and Valley is where the industrial revolution was born in America. The southern entrance to this state park is the site of the historic Stanley Woolen Mill, currently being redeveloped for commercial and tourism. The Native American Nipmuc name for the village here was "Wacentug", translated as "bend in the river".From the Wikipedia article “Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:51 AM | 90° E | 6:59 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:11 AM | 57° ENE | 8:27 PM | 303° WNW | 71° | 15h 15m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:34 AM | 89° E | 6:46 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:12 AM | 122° ESE | 4:18 PM | 239° WSW | 24° | 9h 06m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:42 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:56 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:40 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 27m |
| February | 6:15 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:48 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:16 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:21 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:38 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:44 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:57 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 4:55 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:20 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:33 PM | 14h 34m |
| June | 4:36 AM | 5:11 AM | 5:53 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:59 PM | 15h 14m |
| July | 4:51 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 57m |
| August | 5:25 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:19 PM | 13h 54m |
| September | 5:59 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:26 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:31 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:06 PM | 6:34 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:07 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:19 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:57 PM | 9h 49m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:54 AM | 3:31 PM | 4:16 PM | 4:48 PM | 9h 08m |
Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, 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 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:16 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:18 AM – 4:18 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:27 AM – 3:27 AM | 3.0 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:36 PM – 2:56 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:26 PM – 1:36 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:35 PM – 11:35 PM | 2.0 | 18° | S → SW |
| September | 8:33 PM – 9:33 PM | 1.0 | 15° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.96 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (64%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 64 | 65 | 75 | 86 | 89 | 93 | 98 | 100 | 97 | 86 | 72 | 67 |
| Low °F | -12 | -15 | -3 | 18 | 31 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 41 | 22 | 10 | -4 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this state park
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, closest first.
State Park
WaterfallWaterfall
Lake
State Park
State ParkWaterfall
Lake
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- West Hill Park2.3 km (1.4 mi) · reservable
- Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- West Thompson Lake Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park?
What time is golden hour at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park?
How far is Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park from Uxbridge?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.