Amistad National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Texas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Amistad
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Amistad. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lakes (1)
Canyons (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Amistad the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:41 AM | 8:16 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:08 PM | 246° | 10h 27m |
| February | 7:25 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:34 PM | 256° | 11h 10m |
| March | 7:55 AM | 8:26 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:53 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 7:19 AM | 7:50 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:11 PM | 282° | 12h 53m |
| May | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:30 PM | 293° | 13h 38m |
| June | 6:45 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:47 PM | 298° | 14h 02m |
| July | 6:55 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:47 PM | 295° | 13h 52m |
| August | 7:13 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:26 PM | 287° | 13h 13m |
| September | 7:30 AM | 8:01 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:51 PM | 274° | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:46 AM | 8:18 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:15 PM | 261° | 11h 29m |
| November | 7:09 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:50 PM | 249° | 10h 41m |
| December | 7:32 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:48 PM | 244° | 10h 16m |
Computed for the park's reference point (29.5354, -101.0758); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Amistad, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:04 AM – 5:54 AM | 0.8 | 19° |
| March | 4:12 AM – 6:32 AM | 2.3 | 28° |
| April | 2:14 AM – 5:54 AM | 3.7 | 32° |
| May | 12:10 AM – 5:20 AM | 5.2 | 32° |
| June | 10:22 PM – 5:02 AM | 6.7 | 32° |
| July | 10:19 PM – 3:39 AM | 5.3 | 32° |
| August | 9:51 PM – 1:41 AM | 3.8 | 32° |
| September | 9:11 PM – 11:31 PM | 2.3 | 29° |
| October | 8:34 PM – 9:34 PM | 1.0 | 20° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Weather in Southwest Texas can change in a matter of minutes. It is best to check the local weather report. Amistad National Recreation Area usually has hot summers and mild winters. For more information, please visit the park's Current Conditions page at https://www.nps.gov/amis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 35% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (50%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Amistad National Recreation Area is located on the US-Mexico border 7 miles west of the Del Rio city limit and 6 miles west of the US Highway 90 and 277 North intersection. The park is 160 miles west of San Antonio on US Highway 90 and about 230 miles east of Big Bend National Park via US Highway 90 and US Highway 385. Access to Amistad from the north or south is via US 277/377. The visitor center address is 10477 Highway 90 West, Del Rio, TX 78840.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Jet Skiing
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- SCUBA Diving
- Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Water Skiing
