Big Thicket National Preserve is a National Preserve in Texas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Big Thicket 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 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:16 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:39 PM | 246° | 10h 24m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:06 PM | 256° | 11h 07m |
| March | 7:28 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:26 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:51 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:45 PM | 282° | 12h 55m |
| May | 6:24 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:05 PM | 293° | 13h 41m |
| June | 6:16 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:22 PM | 298° | 14h 06m |
| July | 6:26 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:22 PM | 296° | 13h 56m |
| August | 6:45 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:01 PM | 287° | 13h 16m |
| September | 7:03 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:25 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:53 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:48 PM | 261° | 11h 27m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:22 PM | 249° | 10h 37m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:19 PM | 243° | 10h 11m |
Computed for the park's reference point (30.4580, -94.3867); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Big Thicket, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:38 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.0 | 19° |
| March | 3:47 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.3 | 27° |
| April | 1:50 AM – 5:20 AM | 3.5 | 31° |
| May | 11:47 PM – 4:47 AM | 5.0 | 31° |
| June | 10:00 PM – 4:30 AM | 6.5 | 31° |
| July | 9:57 PM – 3:07 AM | 5.2 | 31° |
| August | 9:28 PM – 1:08 AM | 3.7 | 31° |
| September | 8:46 PM – 11:06 PM | 2.3 | 28° |
| October | 8:08 PM – 9:08 PM | 1.0 | 19° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
SPRING: Expect comfortable weather in Mar/Apr, with heat & humidity increasing in May. SUMMER: High heat, high humidity, and thunderstorms are common. Hurricane & tropical storm activity peaks in late summer. FALL: Early fall can be hot, while Oct/Nov bring pleasant temperatures. WINTER: Mild, chilly weather with occasional cold spells. Snow is rare. Some Dec/Jan/Feb nights may dip below freezing.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). 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
The main corridor through the Big Thicket is US Hwy 69/287 between Beaumont and Woodville. Many smaller roads and highways branch off of the main corridor to reach trailheads and scenic areas. The visitor center is located at the intersection of US 69/287 and FM 420, about 7 miles north of Kountze and 30 miles north of Beaumont.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
