View of Lake Dunmore, Branbury State Park, Leicester, Vermont.
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43.9060° N73.0667° WBortle 3New York

Branbury State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Addison County, Vermont

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 238°–305°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Branbury State Park is a state park in Addison County, Vermont. It sits roughly 2.9 km (1.8 mi) ENE of Salisbury.

Branbury State Park is a 69-acre state park in the towns of Salisbury and Leicester, Vermont. The park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore at the base of Mt. Moosalamoo. It is divided by Vermont Route 53. Activities includes boating, swimming, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching and winter sports. Facilities include a sandy beach, boat rentals, a snack concession, 37 tent sites and 7 lean-to sites, flush toilets, hot showers, and a dump station. There is a nature center and park rangers offer interpretive programs including night hikes, campfire programs, amphibian explorations, and nature crafts and games. Green Mountain National Forest is adjacent to the park's east side.From the Wikipedia article “Branbury State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Salisbury
2.9 km (1.8 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
52% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
3.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:31 PM
sunset 6:10 PM

Light at Branbury State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:13 AM
Sunset
6:02 PM
Golden hour AM
6:55 AM – 7:53 AM
Golden hour PM
5:22 PM – 6:20 PM
Blue hour AM
6:44 AM – 6:55 AM
Blue hour PM
6:20 PM – 6:31 PM
Full darkness
7:38 PM – 5:39 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:27 PM / 12:57 AM
Day length
10h 49m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Branbury State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:56 AM90° E7:05 PM271° W46°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:11 AM56° NE8:39 PM305° NW70°15h 29m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:40 AM89° E6:52 PM271° W46°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:24 AM123° ESE4:18 PM238° WSW23°8h 54m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:52 AM7:24 AM8:10 AM3:55 PM4:40 PM5:12 PM9h 16m
February6:23 AM6:52 AM7:33 AM4:42 PM5:22 PM5:52 PM10h 30m
March6:37 AM7:06 AM7:44 AM6:20 PM6:59 PM7:27 PM11h 53m
April5:40 AM6:10 AM6:49 AM6:57 PM7:36 PM8:06 PM13h 26m
May4:54 AM5:27 AM6:09 AM7:30 PM8:12 PM8:45 PM14h 44m
June4:34 AM5:10 AM5:54 AM7:53 PM8:37 PM9:13 PM15h 27m
July4:49 AM5:24 AM6:07 AM7:50 PM8:33 PM9:08 PM15h 09m
August5:26 AM5:57 AM6:37 AM7:19 PM7:58 PM8:30 PM14h 01m
September6:03 AM6:32 AM7:10 AM6:27 PM7:05 PM7:34 PM12h 33m
October6:38 AM7:07 AM7:46 AM5:31 PM6:10 PM6:39 PM11h 03m
November6:17 AM6:48 AM7:31 AM3:44 PM4:28 PM4:59 PM9h 40m
December6:48 AM7:21 AM8:08 AM3:29 PM4:16 PM4:49 PM8h 55m

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 Branbury State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
March4:45 AM – 5:25 AM0.714°SSE → SSE
April2:41 AM – 4:21 AM1.716°SSE → S
May12:46 AM – 3:16 AM2.517°SSE → S
June11:02 PM – 2:42 AM3.717°SSE → SSW
July10:48 PM – 1:18 AM2.517°S → SSW
August9:50 PM – 11:20 PM1.516°S → SSW
September8:43 PM – 9:13 PM0.513°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-20°—

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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.6 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 52% 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F596875828694979290786965
Low °F-32-24-195263244443320-2-21
Precip. (in)2.52.93.03.63.84.94.44.13.74.53.23.7

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 Branbury State Park, closest first.

Waterfall
Falls of Lana0.4 km away · Addison County · 216 m
Lake DunmoreLake
Lake Dunmore0.8 km away · Addison County · 173 m
Cedar Swamp Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
Cedar Swamp Covered Bridge8.7 km away · Addison County
Mountain Pass
Middlebury Gap10.0 km away · Addison County
Waterfall
Bailey Falls10 km away · Addison County · 510 m
Sanderson Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
Sanderson Covered Bridge13 km away · Rutland County
Waterfall
Texas Falls14 km away · Addison County · 366 m
Dean Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
Dean Covered Bridge14 km away · Rutland County
Pulp Mill Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
Pulp Mill Covered Bridge16 km away · Addison County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Branbury State Park?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Branbury State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:31 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:10 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:46 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Branbury State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 56° in June to 123° in December; sunset ranges from 305° to 238°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Branbury State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Branbury State Park?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Branbury State Park from Salisbury?
About 2.9 km (1.8 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.