Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
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40.3286° N78.1314° WBortle 3New York

Trough Creek State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, probably Burt Ellswor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Trough Creek State Park is a state park in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It sits roughly 14.4 km (8.9 mi) SSW of McConnellstown.

Trough Creek State Park is a 554 acres (224 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Cass, Penn and Todd Townships, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The majority of the park is in Todd Township along Pennsylvania Route 994, east of the unincorporated village of Entriken. Huntingdon is the nearest borough. The park borders Rothrock State Forest and Raystown Lake National Recreation Area. There is a growing population of bald eagles at the lake. Fourteen eagles were spotted in January 2007. This is up from two that were spotted in 1990, the first year that an eagle survey was taken. These three sections of state and federal owned property combine to provide hunting, hiking and fishing opportunities for the outdoorsman. Trough Creek State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "25...From the Wikipedia article “Trough Creek State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
McConnellstown
14.4 km (8.9 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
55% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
4.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:57 PM
sunset 6:34 PM

Light at Trough Creek State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:29 AM
Sunset
6:27 PM
Golden hour AM
7:12 AM – 8:06 AM
Golden hour PM
5:49 PM – 6:44 PM
Blue hour AM
7:02 AM – 7:12 AM
Blue hour PM
6:44 PM – 6:54 PM
Full darkness
7:58 PM – 5:59 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:41 PM / 1:26 AM
Day length
10h 58m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Trough Creek State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:17 AM90° E7:25 PM271° W50°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:44 AM58° ENE8:47 PM302° WNW73°15h 03m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:01 AM89° E7:11 PM271° W50°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:33 AM121° ESE4:50 PM240° WSW26°9h 17m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:04 AM7:34 AM8:16 AM4:29 PM5:11 PM5:41 PM9h 37m
February6:39 AM7:07 AM7:45 AM5:10 PM5:48 PM6:16 PM10h 41m
March6:58 AM7:25 AM8:01 AM6:44 PM7:20 PM7:47 PM11h 54m
April6:07 AM6:35 AM7:11 AM7:15 PM7:51 PM8:20 PM13h 16m
May5:27 AM5:57 AM6:36 AM7:43 PM8:22 PM8:53 PM14h 25m
June5:10 AM5:43 AM6:24 AM8:04 PM8:45 PM9:18 PM15h 02m
July5:24 AM5:56 AM6:36 AM8:02 PM8:42 PM9:14 PM14h 46m
August5:55 AM6:24 AM7:02 AM7:34 PM8:12 PM8:41 PM13h 47m
September6:27 AM6:54 AM7:30 AM6:47 PM7:23 PM7:51 PM12h 29m
October6:56 AM7:24 AM8:01 AM5:57 PM6:34 PM7:02 PM11h 10m
November6:30 AM6:59 AM7:40 AM4:17 PM4:57 PM5:26 PM9h 58m
December6:58 AM7:29 AM8:12 AM4:05 PM4:48 PM5:19 PM9h 19m

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 Trough Creek State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:30 AM – 5:30 AM0.011°SE → SE
March4:41 AM – 5:51 AM1.217°SE → SSE
April2:39 AM – 4:49 AM2.220°SE → S
May12:34 AM – 4:04 AM3.521°SE → S
June10:49 PM – 3:39 AM4.821°SE → SSW
July10:41 PM – 2:11 AM3.521°S → SW
August9:54 PM – 12:14 AM2.320°S → SW
September8:56 PM – 10:06 PM1.217°SSW → SW
October8:05 PM – 8:15 PM0.211°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.44 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ 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 55% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (79%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F647076829194949592887470
Low °F-11-12-11923374546362192
Precip. (in)2.62.93.03.54.14.23.83.53.93.52.83.2

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.
  • 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 Trough Creek State Park, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Coffee Run Overlook4.0 km away · Huntingdon County · 273 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Entriken Bridge Overlook4.9 km away · Huntingdon County · 252 m
Natural Arch
Arch Spring Natural Bridge14 km away · Blair County
Butler KnobMountain Peak
Butler Knob14 km away · Huntingdon County · 708 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Hawns Overlook14 km away · Huntingdon County · 239 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Ridenour Overlook17 km away · Huntingdon County · 302 m
Warriors Path State ParkState Park
Warriors Path State Park18 km away · Bedford County
Canoe Creek State ParkState Park
Canoe Creek State Park21 km away · Blair County
St. Mary's Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
St. Mary's Covered Bridge25 km away · Huntingdon County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Trough Creek State Park?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Trough Creek State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:57 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:34 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:01 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Trough Creek State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 121° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 240°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Trough Creek State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Trough Creek State Park?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Trough Creek State Park from McConnellstown?
About 14.4 km (8.9 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.