William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park is a state park in Tehama County, California. The nearest town is Red Bluff, about 2.2 km (1.4 mi) away (William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park lies NNE of town).
William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park is a California State Historic Park located on the west bank of the Sacramento River, a mile north of Red Bluff in Tehama County, California. Although it was initially believed that Ide built the adobe, research has shown that he never lived in the place that bears his name today. Nevertheless, the State of California decided to keep the name of the park in recognition of Ide's role in California history.From the Wikipedia article “William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:13 AM | 90° E | 7:21 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:40 AM | 58° ENE | 8:43 PM | 302° WNW | 73° | 15h 02m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:29 AM | 121° ESE | 4:47 PM | 240° WSW | 26° | 9h 18m |
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 | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:38 PM | 9h 38m |
| February | 6:35 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:13 PM | 10h 42m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:03 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 16m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 24m |
| June | 5:07 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:21 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:41 PM | 9:14 PM | 15h 01m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:10 PM | 14h 45m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 46m |
| September | 6:23 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:47 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:30 PM | 6:58 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 58m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:15 PM | 9h 20m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° 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 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:37 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.2 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:25 AM – 4:45 AM | 2.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:00 AM | 3.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:45 PM – 3:35 AM | 4.8 | 21° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:36 PM – 2:06 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:50 PM – 12:10 AM | 2.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:02 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:01 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.62 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 14% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (61%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 72 | 72 | 83 | 89 | 101 | 112 | 118 | 114 | 111 | 102 | 86 | 69 |
| Low °F | 14 | 21 | 24 | 29 | 35 | 40 | 52 | 50 | 40 | 33 | 23 | 18 |
| Precip. (in) | 6.0 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 8.3 |
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
- 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.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- 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
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.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Sycamore Grove (Red Bluff) Campground4.9 km (3.1 mi) · reservable
- Camp Discovery Group Camp (Red Bluff Recreation Area)5.3 km (3.3 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park?
What time is golden hour at William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park?
How far is William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park from Red Bluff?
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.