Located in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, Lake Catherine State Park is a state park. It lies in or next to Hot Springs National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Malvern, about 12.8 km (8.0 mi) away (Lake Catherine State Park lies NW of town).
Lake Catherine State Park is a 2,180-acre (880 ha) public recreation area located on the south shore of Lake Catherine, eight miles (13 km) southeast of Hot Springs, Arkansas. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Three stone-and-wood cabins, a former concessions building, and a bridge constructed in the Corps' rustic architecture style are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.From the Wikipedia article “Lake Catherine State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lake Catherine State Park 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:16 AM | 90° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:00 AM | 61° ENE | 8:28 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 28m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:10 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:15 AM | 118° ESE | 5:06 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 51m |
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 | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 06m |
| February | 6:32 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:56 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 58m |
| March | 6:58 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:45 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 5:42 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:30 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 27m |
| July | 5:42 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 14m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:45 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:19 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:35 PM | 10h 23m |
| December | 6:44 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:32 PM | 9h 52m |
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 Lake Catherine State Park, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:50 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:02 AM – 5:02 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:06 AM – 4:26 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:12 PM – 4:12 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:08 PM – 2:48 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:33 PM – 12:43 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:45 PM – 10:45 PM | 2.0 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:42 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.23 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 41% 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 | 77 | 83 | 94 | 98 | 108 | 110 | 115 | 105 | 99 | 87 | 77 |
| Low °F | 6 | 10 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 54 | 59 | 55 | 43 | 30 | 19 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
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
- 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.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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
National Park Service rules. 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Lake Catherine State Park, closest first.
Waterfall
Botanical Garden
Rock Formation
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Gulpha Gorge Campground14.4 km (9.0 mi) · reservable
- Highway 7 Recreation Area28 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Stephens Park29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Avery29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Stephens Park Day-Use29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lake Catherine State Park?
What time is golden hour at Lake Catherine State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lake Catherine State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lake Catherine State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lake Catherine State Park?
How far is Lake Catherine State Park from Malvern?
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.