Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site — a state park in Clay County, Missouri — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 6.4 km (4.0 mi) SW of Lawson. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Watkins Mill is a preserved woolen mill dating to the mid-19th century, located near Lawson, Missouri, United States. The mill is protected as Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, which preserve its machinery and business records in addition to the building itself. It was designated a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 in recognition for its remarkable state of preservation. The historic site is the centerpiece of Watkins Mill State Park, which is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.From the Wikipedia article “Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site 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) | 5:51 AM | 58° ENE | 8:48 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 57m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:05 AM | 89° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:34 AM | 120° ESE | 4:57 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 23m |
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 | 4:37 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 42m |
| February | 6:43 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:22 PM | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:03 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:51 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:13 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:34 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 20m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:31 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 56m |
| July | 5:32 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 41m |
| August | 6:02 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 44m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:06 PM | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:32 PM | 10h 02m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 24m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.62 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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 | 71 | 75 | 81 | 88 | 97 | 107 | 109 | 110 | 103 | 93 | 77 | 73 |
| Low °F | -16 | -10 | -4 | 17 | 31 | 45 | 52 | 48 | 38 | 22 | 9 | -6 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site?
What time is golden hour at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site?
Where does the sun rise and set at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site?
Can you see the Milky Way from Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site?
How far is Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site from Lawson?
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.