Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park is a National Historical Park 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 Ste. Geneviève
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Ste. Geneviève. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Ste. Geneviève the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:16 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:05 PM | 244° | 9h 49m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:39 PM | 255° | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:12 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:08 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:36 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:51 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:04 PM | 295° | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:38 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:25 PM | 301° | 14h 47m |
| July | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:23 PM | 299° | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:16 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 289° | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:43 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:10 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:24 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:42 AM | 7:20 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:50 PM | 247° | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:10 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:43 PM | 241° | 9h 33m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.9792, -90.0432); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ste. Geneviève, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 4:57 AM – 5:17 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:05 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.5 | 19° |
| April | 2:09 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:09 AM – 3:59 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:20 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:14 PM – 2:14 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:33 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:39 PM – 10:09 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 7:51 PM – 8:11 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| 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
The weather in Ste. Genevieve is typical of a midwestern climate. High heat and humidity, severe thunderstorms, snow and ice, and extreme cold are all possible depending upon the season. The average high in July is 88 degrees and the average low in January is 22 degrees. The area averages 41 inches of precipitation annually. Please plan your visit accordingly.
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
From north of Ste. Genevieve (e.g. St. Louis), take I-55 South to exit 150. Follow MO-32 East for about 4 miles. Turn right on Market Street. From south of Ste. Genevieve (e.g. Cape Girardeau), take I-55 North to exit 150. Follow MO-32 East for about 4 miles. Turn right on Market Street. From southern Illinois, you can also take the Ste. Genevieve - Modoc Ferry across the Mississippi. Please visit http://stegenmodocferry.com/ for hours and rates.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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