Washita Battlefield National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Oklahoma. 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 Washita Battlefield
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Washita Battlefield. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Washita Battlefield the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:48 AM | 8:27 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:49 PM | 245° | 10h 01m |
| February | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:21 PM | 255° | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:50 AM | 8:24 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:47 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:12 PM | 283° | 13h 05m |
| May | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:37 PM | 294° | 14h 03m |
| June | 6:23 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:57 PM | 300° | 14h 33m |
| July | 6:35 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:56 PM | 298° | 14h 20m |
| August | 6:59 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:30 PM | 288° | 13h 31m |
| September | 7:22 AM | 7:56 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:48 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:46 AM | 8:20 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:05 PM | 260° | 11h 19m |
| November | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:33 PM | 248° | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:42 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:28 PM | 242° | 9h 46m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.6208, -99.7045); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Washita Battlefield, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | 5:27 AM – 5:57 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 4:32 AM – 6:22 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:37 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 10:45 PM – 4:35 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:40 PM – 3:10 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 10:03 PM – 1:03 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 9:14 PM – 11:04 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| 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
Weather in western Oklahoma can vary considerably. Winters can be mild to severe with ice storms being the biggest concern. Spring is usually short but pleasant although severe weather, including tornadoes, is still a possibility. Usually a strong breeze is associated with spring weather. Summers are brutally hot and visitors should be cautioned about spending any length of time in the heat. Falls are cool with a bitter wind.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). 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
Washita Battlefield is located just west of Cheyenne in western Oklahoma approximately 130 miles west of Oklahoma City and 140 miles east of Amarillo, Texas; just 25 miles north of I-40 on State Highway 283. From Cheyenne head west on State Highway 47 for about 1 mile and then make a right on State Highway 47A. The visitor center will be on the right and the battlefield is about .5 miles past the visitor center on the right as well.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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