El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail is a National Historic Trail in Texas, Louisiana. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in El Camino Real de los Tejas
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to El Camino Real de los Tejas. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At El Camino Real de los Tejas 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 | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:52 PM | 246° | 10h 25m |
| February | 7:10 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:19 PM | 256° | 11h 08m |
| March | 7:40 AM | 8:12 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:38 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 7:03 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:25 PM | 7:57 PM | 282° | 12h 54m |
| May | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:17 PM | 293° | 13h 40m |
| June | 6:29 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:33 PM | 298° | 14h 04m |
| July | 6:39 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:33 PM | 296° | 13h 54m |
| August | 6:57 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:12 PM | 287° | 13h 15m |
| September | 7:15 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:36 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:32 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:00 PM | 261° | 11h 28m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:34 PM | 249° | 10h 39m |
| December | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:32 PM | 243° | 10h 13m |
Computed for the park's reference point (30.0923, -97.3398); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From El Camino Real de los Tejas, 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 31° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:49 AM – 5:39 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:57 AM – 6:17 AM | 2.3 | 28° |
| April | 2:00 AM – 5:30 AM | 3.5 | 31° |
| May | 11:57 PM – 4:57 AM | 5.0 | 31° |
| June | 10:09 PM – 4:49 AM | 6.7 | 31° |
| July | 10:06 PM – 3:26 AM | 5.3 | 31° |
| August | 9:38 PM – 1:18 AM | 3.7 | 31° |
| September | 8:56 PM – 11:16 PM | 2.3 | 28° |
| October | 8:19 PM – 9:19 PM | 1.0 | 20° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Due to the length of El Camino de los Tejas National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (60%). 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
You can visit many sites of the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail over the 2,580-mile historic route that crosses 2 states, and travels into Mexico, to Mexico City.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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