Jonathan Dickinson State Park — a state park in Martin County, Florida — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Hobe Sound, about 6.0 km (3.7 mi) away (Jonathan Dickinson State Park lies S of town).
Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a Florida State Park, and historic site located in Martin County, Florida, between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. The park includes the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center and a variety of natural habitats: sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, mangroves, and river swamps. The Loxahatchee River, designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1985 (the first in Florida), runs through the park. The park is also along the Ocean to Lake Trail. The park is at 16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound. The park is well known for its Camp Murphy Mountain Bike Trails.From the Wikipedia article “Jonathan Dickinson State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Jonathan Dickinson 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 86° in summer but only 40° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:25 AM | 90° E | 7:32 PM | 270° W | 63° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:28 AM | 63° ENE | 8:18 PM | 297° WNW | 86° | 13h 51m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 63° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:06 AM | 116° ESE | 5:32 PM | 244° WSW | 40° | 10h 26m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 37m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:13 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 15m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 48m |
| May | 6:08 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 28m |
| June | 6:01 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 50m |
| July | 6:11 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 41m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 06m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 20m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 32m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:14 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 49m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 27m |
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 Jonathan Dickinson State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 34° 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 | 4:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 1.0 | 21° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:37 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.5 | 30° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:36 AM – 5:36 AM | 4.0 | 34° | SE → S |
| May | 11:39 PM – 4:59 AM | 5.3 | 34° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:49 PM – 4:49 AM | 7.0 | 34° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:48 PM – 3:28 AM | 5.7 | 34° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:22 PM – 1:22 AM | 4.0 | 34° | S → SW |
| September | 8:45 PM – 11:25 PM | 2.7 | 31° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:11 PM – 9:21 PM | 1.2 | 22° | 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 ≈ 19.88 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (57%). August 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 | 89 | 94 | 96 | 100 | 98 | 97 | 97 | 93 | 91 | 87 | 87 |
| Low °F | 30 | 32 | 37 | 47 | 54 | 69 | 72 | 71 | 64 | 44 | 42 | 30 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, closest first.
National Wildlife Refuge
Lighthouse
LighthouseLighthouse
State Park
State Park
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Jonathan Dickinson State Park?
What time is golden hour at Jonathan Dickinson State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Jonathan Dickinson State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Jonathan Dickinson State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Jonathan Dickinson State Park?
How far is Jonathan Dickinson State Park from Hobe Sound?
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.