Chickasaw National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Oklahoma. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 9 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Chickasaw
We matched 9 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Chickasaw. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (9)
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallSunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Chickasaw 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:35 AM | 8:13 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:41 PM | 245° | 10h 06m |
| February | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:12 PM | 255° | 10h 58m |
| March | 7:40 AM | 8:13 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:36 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:00 PM | 283° | 13h 03m |
| May | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:24 PM | 294° | 13h 57m |
| June | 6:16 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:43 PM | 299° | 14h 27m |
| July | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:42 PM | 297° | 14h 15m |
| August | 6:50 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:17 PM | 288° | 13h 27m |
| September | 7:12 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:36 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:34 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:55 PM | 260° | 11h 21m |
| November | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:25 PM | 248° | 10h 22m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:20 PM | 242° | 9h 52m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.4605, -97.0072); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Chickasaw, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 4:20 AM – 6:10 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 2:18 AM – 5:18 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 12:22 AM – 4:42 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 10:28 PM – 4:28 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 10:24 PM – 3:04 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:49 PM – 12:59 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 9:01 PM – 10:51 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 8:18 PM – 8:58 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers are hot and humid. Temperatures above 100ºF occur, and humidity often exceeds 50%. Winters are mild and prolonged freezes are rare. Thunderstorms are common April through July.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (55%). 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 (%)
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
From US I-35 drive through the towns of Davis and towards the town of Sulphur. There are a variety of destinations in the park to choose from.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hands-On
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Gathering and Foraging
- Hunting
