Cane River Creole National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Louisiana. 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 Cane River Creole 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 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:31 PM | 246° | 10h 19m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:26 PM | 5:59 PM | 256° | 11h 05m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:21 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:44 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:41 PM | 282° | 12h 57m |
| May | 6:16 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:02 PM | 293° | 13h 46m |
| June | 6:07 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:19 PM | 298° | 14h 12m |
| July | 6:18 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:19 PM | 296° | 14h 01m |
| August | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:57 PM | 287° | 13h 19m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:19 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:08 PM | 6:41 PM | 260° | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:14 PM | 249° | 10h 33m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:11 PM | 243° | 10h 06m |
Computed for the park's reference point (31.6541, -93.0013); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cane River Creole, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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 | 4:41 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:52 AM – 5:52 AM | 2.0 | 26° |
| April | 1:46 AM – 5:16 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| May | 11:46 PM – 4:36 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| June | 9:59 PM – 4:19 AM | 6.3 | 29° |
| July | 9:56 PM – 2:56 AM | 5.0 | 29° |
| August | 9:25 PM – 12:55 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 10:52 PM | 2.2 | 26° |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:52 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| 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
Weather in central Louisiana can be unpredictable. Summers are hot and humid. Winter is relatively mild with measurable snowfall every 5-10 years. Average rainfall is approximately 55-60 inches per year. The area is also subject to severe thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Visitors might want to bring hats, umbrellas, and drink plenty of water. Please check the local weather forecast before planning your visit to the park.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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
To reach Oakland Plantation, take I-49 to Exit 127, Flora/Cypress. Head east on LA Highway 120 toward Cypress. Cross over LA Highway 1 onto LA Highway 494. The parking lot and entrance pavilion for Oakland is 4.5 miles east of Highway 1 on the left. To reach Magnolia Plantation, take I-49 to Exit 119, Cloutierville. Cross over LA Highway 1 onto LA Highway 119. Follow Highway 119 for 1.1 miles; the visitor parking lot will be on the right just before the plantation store.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
