Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area — a state park in Cheshire County, New Hampshire — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 6.1 km (3.8 mi) SSE of Westmoreland.
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, also known as Chesterfield Gorge State Wayside, is a 13-acre (5.3 ha) state park on Route 9 in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. The park conserves a rocky gorge with waterfalls on Wilde Brook. There is picnicking, a seasonal visitor center, and 0.7-mile (1.1 km) trail on either side of the brook. The park owes its existence to local farmer George White, who bought the gorge in 1936 to protect it from clear-cut loggers. White sold 15 acres (6.1 ha) to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which then donated the land to the state. As Chesterfield Gorge Wayside Picnic Area, the park dates from 1948.From the Wikipedia article “Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (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) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:02 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:12 AM | 56° ENE | 8:33 PM | 304° NW | 71° | 15h 21m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:49 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:18 AM | 122° ESE | 4:19 PM | 238° WSW | 24° | 9h 01m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:03 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:12 PM | 9h 22m |
| February | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 33m |
| March | 6:34 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:24 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:39 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 23m |
| May | 4:55 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:39 PM | 14h 38m |
| June | 4:36 AM | 5:11 AM | 5:54 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:06 PM | 15h 20m |
| July | 4:51 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:27 PM | 9:01 PM | 15h 03m |
| August | 5:26 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 57m |
| September | 6:02 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:30 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 6:35 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:09 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 05m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:25 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:28 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 45m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:31 PM | 4:17 PM | 4:49 PM | 9h 02m |
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 Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° 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 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:31 AM – 5:21 AM | 0.8 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:35 AM – 4:15 AM | 1.7 | 17° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:37 AM – 3:17 AM | 2.7 | 18° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:49 PM – 2:49 AM | 4.0 | 18° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:38 PM – 1:28 AM | 2.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:43 PM – 11:23 PM | 1.7 | 17° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:39 PM – 9:29 PM | 0.8 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.65 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ 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 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 63 | 67 | 74 | 87 | 87 | 90 | 97 | 99 | 96 | 85 | 72 | 67 |
| Low °F | -22 | -19 | -13 | 12 | 27 | 36 | 48 | 47 | 36 | 18 | 2 | -13 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 4.2 |
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
- 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.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, closest first.
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
WaterfallWaterfall
Covered Bridge
Covered BridgeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Surry Mountain Lake Beach11.8 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- Surry Mountain Lake Campground12.2 km (7.6 mi)
- Otter Brook Lake Recreation Area15.6 km (9.7 mi) · reservable
- Townshend Lake Recreation Area29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area?
What time is golden hour at Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area?
Where does the sun rise and set at Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area?
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Do you need a permit to photograph at Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area?
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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.