Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. 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 Ozark
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Ozark. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Ozark the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:12 PM | 244° | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:45 PM | 255° | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:13 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:31 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:40 PM | 283° | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:07 PM | 295° | 14h 09m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:27 PM | 301° | 14h 42m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:26 PM | 298° | 14h 28m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:58 PM | 288° | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 274° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:30 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:56 PM | 247° | 10h 12m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:50 PM | 241° | 9h 38m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.1397, -91.2571); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ozark, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° 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 | 5:03 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:09 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:12 AM – 4:52 AM | 2.7 | 24° |
| May | 12:11 AM – 4:11 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:21 PM – 3:51 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:15 PM – 2:25 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:35 PM – 12:25 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:43 PM – 10:23 PM | 1.7 | 20° |
| October | 7:56 PM – 8:16 PM | 0.3 | 14° |
| 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
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in southeastern Missouri. Summer temperatures generally range from 75-100 degrees (°F) with high humidity. Winter temperatures generally range from 0-50 (°F) degrees with periods of intermittent freezing and snow. Periods of excessive heat are typical in summer, while heavy rains or flooding can occur throughout the year. Be sure to plan accordingly when camping, hiking, or floating.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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
Visitor centers can be found at the following locations: Big Spring Entrance Station - 3 miles south of Van Buren on Highway 103 Alley Mill & Store - 12185 Alley Hollow Road Round Spring Ranger Station - 13209 Round Spring Campground Rd Administrative offices for Ozark National Scenic Riverways are located at 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965. This location does not offer a visitor center - tourists should instead go to the Big Spring Entrance Station.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Caving
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Gathering and Foraging
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