Poverty Point National Monument is a National Monument 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 Poverty Point 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 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:23 PM | 245° | 10h 14m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:52 PM | 256° | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:14 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:36 PM | 282° | 12h 59m |
| May | 6:08 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:58 PM | 293° | 13h 50m |
| June | 5:58 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 299° | 14h 17m |
| July | 6:09 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:15 PM | 296° | 14h 06m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:52 PM | 287° | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:13 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:34 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:06 PM | 249° | 10h 29m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:02 PM | 243° | 10h 01m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.6424, -91.4083); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Poverty Point, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° 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 | 4:35 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 3:46 AM – 5:46 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:42 AM – 5:02 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:43 PM – 4:23 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 9:58 PM – 4:08 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 9:54 PM – 2:44 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 9:22 PM – 12:42 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:47 PM | 2.2 | 25° |
| October | 7:56 PM – 8:46 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| 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
Summers are sunny, hot, and humid. Winters tend to be mild; however, humid rainy periods occur throughout the year. Sudden and severe thunderstorms are common, so stay alert to weather forecasts. Check with rangers at the Visitor Center and/or USS Cairo Museum for updates on weather patterns. Wear comfortable sportswear appropriate for the season, with walking or hiking shoes recommended.
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%). 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
By car, from Interstate 20, take the Delhi exit and travel north on LA 17, east on LA 134 and north on LA 577.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
MS/LA
MS
MS
AR
IL/MS
LA