Arkansas Post — a state park in Arkansas County, Arkansas — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Pea Ridge, about 10.7 km (6.6 mi) away (Arkansas Post lies N of town). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Arkansas Post (French: Poste de Arkansea; Spanish: Puesto de Arkansas), officially the Arkansas Post National Memorial, was the first European settlement located along the Mississippi River, in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and in the present-day U.S. state of Arkansas. In 1686, Henri de Tonti established it on behalf of Louis XIV of France for the purpose of trading with the Quapaw Nation. The French, Spanish, and Americans, who acquired the territory in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase, considered the site of strategic value. It was the capital of Arkansas from 1819 until 1821 when the territorial government relocated to Little Rock.From the Wikipedia article “Arkansas Post”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Arkansas Post 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:10 AM | 90° E | 7:17 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:55 AM | 61° ENE | 8:21 PM | 299° WNW | 79° | 14h 25m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:08 AM | 118° ESE | 5:01 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 53m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:47 PM | 10h 08m |
| February | 6:26 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 59m |
| March | 6:52 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:38 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:03 PM | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:37 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 56m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 24m |
| July | 5:37 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 12m |
| August | 6:01 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:39 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:46 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:33 PM | 6:58 PM | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:30 PM | 10h 24m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:20 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 54m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Arkansas Post, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° 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 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:43 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:56 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.8 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:54 AM – 5:04 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 11:57 PM – 4:17 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:03 PM – 4:03 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:59 PM – 2:39 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:25 PM – 12:35 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:38 PM – 10:38 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:55 PM – 8:35 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.7 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 75 | 78 | 82 | 90 | 97 | 108 | 109 | 113 | 104 | 100 | 86 | 78 |
| Low °F | 7 | 8 | 8 | 27 | 37 | 54 | 59 | 55 | 45 | 29 | 19 | 10 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 5.3 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this state park
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Arkansas Post, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Pendleton Bend3.6 km (2.2 mi) · reservable
- Notrebes Bend Park4.6 km (2.9 mi) · reservable
- Wilbur D. Mills5.4 km (3.4 mi) · reservable
- Merrisach Lake7.4 km (4.6 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Arkansas Post?
What time is golden hour at Arkansas Post?
Where does the sun rise and set at Arkansas Post?
Can you see the Milky Way from Arkansas Post?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Arkansas Post?
How far is Arkansas Post from Pea Ridge?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.