Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is a National Battlefield 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 Wilson's Creek
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Wilson's Creek. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Wilson's Creek 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 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 | 7:27 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:20 PM | 244° | 9h 54m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:54 PM | 255° | 10h 51m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:40 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:49 PM | 283° | 13h 09m |
| May | 6:06 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:15 PM | 295° | 14h 09m |
| June | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:36 PM | 301° | 14h 42m |
| July | 6:06 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:34 PM | 298° | 14h 28m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:07 PM | 288° | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:23 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:38 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:05 PM | 247° | 10h 12m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:59 PM | 241° | 9h 38m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.1000, -93.4099); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Wilson's Creek, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through October. 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 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 | 5:12 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.3 | 14° |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:11 AM – 5:01 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 12:19 AM – 4:19 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:28 PM – 3:58 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:32 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:33 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:51 PM – 10:31 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 8:05 PM – 8:35 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| 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
Summer months are frequently hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Winter months (especially January and February) are frequently cold, with occasional ice and light snow. Spring and fall months are generally pleasant, with occasional showers.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% 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 I-44: exit at Exit 70 (Missouri Highway MM). Continue south to U.S. Highway 60. Proceed through the intersection. Continue 1/2 mile to Missouri Highway ZZ. Turn right on ZZ. Continue south to Farm Road 182 (Elm Street). At the roundabout, take the third exit; the entrance to the battlefield is on the right.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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