Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park — a state park in Collier County, Florida — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Naples Park, about 2.9 km (1.8 mi) away (Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park lies NW of town).
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is a Florida state park located on a barrier island on Florida's southwest coast near Naples, Florida, 6 miles west of I-75 in North Naples. The Cocohatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico are accessible from the park, which contains a hard-bottom reef.From the Wikipedia article “Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 40° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:32 AM | 90° E | 7:39 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:36 AM | 63° ENE | 8:23 PM | 297° WNW | 87° | 13h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 64° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:11 AM | 116° ESE | 5:41 PM | 244° WSW | 40° | 10h 29m |
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 | 6:52 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:24 PM | 5:57 PM | 6:22 PM | 10h 40m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 17m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:08 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:00 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:41 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:36 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 47m |
| May | 6:17 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 26m |
| June | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 47m |
| July | 6:19 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:49 PM | 13h 38m |
| August | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 04m |
| September | 6:51 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:33 PM | 7:56 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 7:04 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:24 PM | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:20 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 52m |
| December | 6:43 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 30m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 35° 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 | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:28 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.2 | 21° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:43 AM – 6:13 AM | 2.5 | 31° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:41 AM – 5:41 AM | 4.0 | 35° | SE → S |
| May | 11:43 PM – 5:13 AM | 5.5 | 35° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:52 PM – 5:02 AM | 7.2 | 35° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:51 PM – 3:31 AM | 5.7 | 35° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:27 PM – 1:37 AM | 4.2 | 35° | S → SW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 11:30 PM | 2.7 | 32° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:17 PM – 9:37 PM | 1.3 | 23° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
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 November as the clearest month (about 37% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (59%). 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 | 85 | 88 | 96 | 97 | 100 | 98 | 96 | 95 | 94 | 91 | 90 | 87 |
| Low °F | 24 | 29 | 34 | 41 | 54 | 68 | 71 | 69 | 62 | 40 | 39 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, closest first.
BeachBeach
State Park
State Park
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Lighthouse
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife RefugeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park?
What time is golden hour at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park?
How far is Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park from Naples Park?
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.