Niagara Falls State Park is a state park in Niagara County, New York. The nearest town is Niagara Falls, about 1.9 km (1.2 mi) away (Niagara Falls State Park lies SW of town). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Niagara Falls State Park is a state park located in Niagara Falls, New York, United States. It is recognized as the oldest state park in the United States, and contains the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion of the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls).From the Wikipedia article “Niagara Falls State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Niagara Falls State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) 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 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:20 AM | 90° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:38 AM | 56° NE | 9:00 PM | 304° NW | 70° | 15h 22m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:45 AM | 122° ESE | 4:45 PM | 238° WSW | 23° | 8h 59m |
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 | 7:14 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:38 PM | 9h 21m |
| February | 6:46 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:08 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 33m |
| March | 7:01 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:07 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:51 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 24m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 39m |
| June | 5:02 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:20 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:58 PM | 9:33 PM | 15h 21m |
| July | 5:17 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:33 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:29 PM | 15h 04m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:51 PM | 13h 58m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:57 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:02 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 05m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 44m |
| December | 7:09 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:28 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:15 PM | 9h 01m |
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 Niagara Falls State Park, 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 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:57 AM – 5:47 AM | 0.8 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:01 AM – 4:41 AM | 1.7 | 17° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:03 AM – 3:43 AM | 2.7 | 18° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:15 PM – 3:15 AM | 4.0 | 18° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:04 PM – 1:54 AM | 2.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:09 PM – 11:49 PM | 1.7 | 17° | S → SSW |
| September | 9:05 PM – 9:55 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.69 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 60% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (81%). July is the warmest month and February 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 | 53 | 52 | 68 | 66 | 83 | 87 | 90 | 89 | 88 | 78 | 65 | 55 |
| Low °F | -3 | -9 | -7 | 14 | 31 | 40 | 46 | 52 | 41 | 30 | 19 | 7 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
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
- 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 Niagara Falls State Park, closest first.
Waterfall
Cave
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
State Park
State Park
Canyon
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Niagara Falls State Park?
What time is golden hour at Niagara Falls State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Niagara Falls State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Niagara Falls State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Niagara Falls State Park?
How far is Niagara Falls State Park from Niagara Falls?
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.