Big Run State Park — a state park in Garrett County, Maryland — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 10.3 km (6.4 mi) NW of Westernport.
Big Run State Park is a Maryland state park located at the northern end of the Savage River Reservoir, an impoundment of the Savage River, in Garrett County, Maryland. The park occupies 300 acres (120 ha) in Savage River State Forest and encompasses the confluence of Monroe Run and Big Run. Park activities include boating, fishing, hiking, picknicking, and camping.From the Wikipedia article “Big Run State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Big Run State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:21 AM | 90° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 58° ENE | 8:48 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 58m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:05 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:34 AM | 120° ESE | 4:57 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 22m |
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 | 7:07 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 41m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:02 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:51 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 21m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:30 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 57m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 42m |
| August | 6:01 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 44m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:06 PM | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:31 PM | 10h 01m |
| December | 7:00 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 24m |
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 Big Run State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 | 5:24 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:34 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.3 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:31 AM – 5:01 AM | 2.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| May | 12:34 AM – 4:04 AM | 3.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:48 PM – 3:48 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:40 PM – 2:20 AM | 3.7 | 22° | S → SW |
| August | 9:55 PM – 12:15 AM | 2.3 | 21° | S → SW |
| September | 8:59 PM – 10:19 PM | 1.3 | 18° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.52 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (78%). 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 | 66 | 70 | 77 | 85 | 87 | 90 | 97 | 94 | 93 | 89 | 74 | 72 |
| Low °F | -10 | -7 | -8 | 19 | 23 | 36 | 45 | 44 | 34 | 20 | 6 | 2 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
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 Big Run State Park, closest first.
State Park
State Park
Mountain PeakLake
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfall
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Howell Run Picnic Area14.3 km (8.9 mi) · reservable
- Robert W Craig14.4 km (8.9 mi) · reservable
- Mill Run Recreation Area28 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Big Run State Park?
What time is golden hour at Big Run State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Big Run State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Big Run State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Big Run State Park?
How far is Big Run State Park from Westernport?
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.