Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park — a state park in Collier County, Florida — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Verona Walk, about 28 km (17 mi) away (Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park lies ESE of town).
Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is a Florida State Park in Collier County just west of SR 29 in the Big Cypress Swamp. The park includes most of the Fakahatchee Strand, a thread of forested strand (swamp), as well as mangrove forests and salt marshes in the Ten Thousand Islands.From the Wikipedia article “Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Fakahatchee Strand Preserve 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 41° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:31 AM | 90° E | 7:37 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:35 AM | 63° ENE | 8:21 PM | 297° WNW | 87° | 13h 46m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:15 AM | 89° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 64° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:09 AM | 116° ESE | 5:40 PM | 244° WSW | 41° | 10h 31m |
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 | 6:50 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:23 PM | 5:56 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 41m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:19 PM | 6:43 PM | 11h 17m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:35 PM | 7:58 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:40 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:13 PM | 12h 46m |
| May | 6:16 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 25m |
| June | 6:08 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:46 PM | 13h 45m |
| July | 6:18 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:46 PM | 13h 37m |
| August | 6:35 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 04m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:55 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 7:02 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:28 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:18 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:02 PM | 10h 53m |
| December | 6:41 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 31m |
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 Fakahatchee Strand Preserve 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:27 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.2 | 22° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:42 AM – 6:12 AM | 2.5 | 31° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:39 AM – 5:39 AM | 4.0 | 35° | SE → S |
| May | 11:41 PM – 5:11 AM | 5.5 | 35° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:50 PM – 5:00 AM | 7.2 | 35° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:49 PM – 3:29 AM | 5.7 | 35° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:25 PM – 1:35 AM | 4.2 | 35° | S → SW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 11:29 PM | 2.7 | 32° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:16 PM – 9:36 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.35 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 Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
National Wildlife Refuge
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park?
What time is golden hour at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park?
How far is Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park from Verona Walk?
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.