Arkansas Arboretum is a botanical garden in Pulaski County, Arkansas. It sits roughly 7.7 km (4.8 mi) WSW of Maumelle.
The Arkansas Arboretum is a 71-acre (29 ha) arboretum within Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. Situated below Pinnacle Mountain along the Little Maumelle River, the arboretum's flora and tree plantings correspond to Arkansas's six geographical regions, ranging from the flat-topped hills and steep valleys of the Ozark Plateau to the flat bottomland and tallgrass prairies of the Mississippi alluvial plain, with a 0.6-mile (1 km) paved interpretive trail.From the Wikipedia article “Arkansas Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Arkansas Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:14 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:58 AM | 60° ENE | 8:27 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 118° ESE | 5:03 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 49m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:50 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 04m |
| February | 6:31 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:19 PM | 10h 57m |
| March | 6:56 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:13 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:08 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:40 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:27 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 29m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 16m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:36 PM | 7:02 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:18 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:33 PM | 10h 21m |
| December | 6:43 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:29 PM | 9h 50m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Arkansas Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:48 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:02 AM – 5:52 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:01 AM – 5:01 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:05 AM – 4:25 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:12 PM – 4:02 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:07 PM – 2:37 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:32 PM – 12:42 AM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:44 PM – 10:34 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:41 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.46 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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 | 75 | 77 | 83 | 94 | 98 | 108 | 110 | 115 | 105 | 99 | 87 | 77 |
| Low °F | 6 | 10 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 54 | 59 | 55 | 43 | 30 | 19 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
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 botanical garden
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Arkansas Arboretum, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Arkansas Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Arkansas Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Arkansas Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Arkansas Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Arkansas Arboretum?
How far is Arkansas Arboretum from Maumelle?
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.