Riverbanks Zoo is a botanical garden in Lexington County, South Carolina. The nearest town is West Columbia, about 1.8 km (1.1 mi) away (Riverbanks Zoo lies N of town).
The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a 170-acre (69 ha) zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located along the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. A small portion of the zoo extends into the nearby city of West Columbia. It is operated by the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District, a partnership of the city of Columbia and Richland and Lexington counties. It is overseen by the Riverbanks Park Commission, comprising two members each from the three governments and one at-large member. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).From the Wikipedia article “Riverbanks Zoo and Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Riverbanks Zoo the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:29 AM | 90° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:14 AM | 61° ENE | 8:39 PM | 299° WNW | 79° | 14h 25m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:27 AM | 118° ESE | 5:20 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 53m |
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 | 7:03 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 08m |
| February | 6:44 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:09 PM | 6:34 PM | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:09 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:57 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:47 PM | 13h 56m |
| June | 5:44 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:07 PM | 14h 24m |
| July | 5:56 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 12m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:43 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:41 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:33 PM | 7:58 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:05 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:52 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:48 PM | 10h 24m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 54m |
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 Riverbanks Zoo, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city 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 | 5:02 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:15 AM – 6:05 AM | 1.8 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:13 AM – 5:23 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 12:16 AM – 4:36 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:22 PM – 4:22 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:18 PM – 2:58 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:54 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:57 PM – 10:57 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:14 PM – 8:54 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.34 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 76 | 79 | 86 | 93 | 99 | 110 | 108 | 108 | 102 | 102 | 86 | 80 |
| Low °F | 9 | 12 | 13 | 24 | 40 | 50 | 58 | 54 | 45 | 30 | 20 | 17 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 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 botanical garden
- 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.
- 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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Riverbanks Zoo, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Riverbanks Zoo?
What time is golden hour at Riverbanks Zoo?
Where does the sun rise and set at Riverbanks Zoo?
Can you see the Milky Way from Riverbanks Zoo?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Riverbanks Zoo?
How far is Riverbanks Zoo from West Columbia?
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.