The sign in front at Oconee State Park.
  1. Home
  2. State Parks
  3. South Carolina
  4. Oconee County
  5. Oconee State Park
34.8664° N83.1041° WBortle 3New York

Oconee State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Oconee County, South Carolina

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Clemson3564 at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source

Located in Oconee County, South Carolina, Oconee State Park is a state park. It sits roughly 11.9 km (7.4 mi) NNW of Walhalla.

Oconee State Park is a state park located in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of South Carolina. This 1165-acre (472 ha) park has several recreational opportunities to choose from. They include cabins, camping, fishing and boating in the two small lakes located on the park grounds, hiking on eight nature/hiking trails, and several picnic and meeting facilities. The southern end of the Foothills Trail and the western end of the Oconee Passage of the Palmetto Trail are in Oconee State Park.From the Wikipedia article “Oconee State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Walhalla
11.9 km (7.4 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
October
44% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:25 PM
sunset 6:59 PM

Light at Oconee State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:43 AM
Sunset
6:53 PM
Golden hour AM
7:27 AM – 8:17 AM
Golden hour PM
6:18 PM – 7:08 PM
Blue hour AM
7:17 AM – 7:27 AM
Blue hour PM
7:08 PM – 7:18 PM
Full darkness
8:17 PM – 6:19 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:52 PM / 1:59 AM
Day length
11h 10m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
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 Oconee State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:37 AM90° E7:44 PM271° W55°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:20 AM60° ENE8:50 PM300° WNW79°14h 30m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:21 AM89° E7:31 PM271° W55°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:37 AM119° ESE5:26 PM242° WSW32°9h 49m

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
January7:13 AM7:40 AM8:18 AM5:07 PM5:44 PM6:12 PM10h 04m
February6:53 AM7:19 AM7:54 AM5:41 PM6:16 PM6:42 PM10h 56m
March7:19 AM7:44 AM8:17 AM7:07 PM7:40 PM8:06 PM11h 56m
April6:35 AM7:01 AM7:35 AM7:31 PM8:05 PM8:31 PM13h 04m
May6:02 AM6:30 AM7:06 AM7:53 PM8:29 PM8:57 PM13h 59m
June5:50 AM6:19 AM6:57 AM8:11 PM8:48 PM9:18 PM14h 29m
July6:02 AM6:31 AM7:07 AM8:11 PM8:47 PM9:16 PM14h 17m
August6:27 AM6:53 AM7:28 AM7:48 PM8:22 PM8:49 PM13h 29m
September6:51 AM7:16 AM7:49 AM7:08 PM7:41 PM8:06 PM12h 25m
October7:13 AM7:39 AM8:13 AM6:25 PM6:59 PM7:24 PM11h 20m
November6:41 AM7:07 AM7:44 AM4:52 PM5:28 PM5:55 PM10h 21m
December7:05 AM7:34 AM8:12 AM4:44 PM5:23 PM5:51 PM9h 50m

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 Oconee State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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—0°—
February5:10 AM – 5:50 AM0.716°SE → SE
March4:24 AM – 6:14 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April2:23 AM – 5:23 AM3.026°SE → S
May12:27 AM – 4:47 AM4.326°SE → SSW
June10:34 PM – 4:24 AM5.826°SE → SW
July10:29 PM – 2:59 AM4.526°SSE → SW
August9:54 PM – 1:04 AM3.226°S → SW
September9:06 PM – 10:56 PM1.823°SSW → SW
October8:23 PM – 9:03 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

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 ≈ 21.49 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F72758186921081071031001008474
Low °F3720223449555440271812
Precip. (in)4.55.14.74.44.44.84.94.54.34.14.45.7

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 Oconee State Park, closest first.

Waterfall
Hidden Falls1.9 km away · Oconee County · 489 m
Waterfall
Station Cove Falls2.5 km away · Oconee County
Oconee Station State Historic SiteState Park
Oconee Station State Historic Site3.8 km away · Oconee County
Waterfall
Isaqueena Falls6.9 km away · Oconee County · 373 m
Issaqueena FallsWaterfall
Issaqueena Falls6.9 km away · Oconee County
Waterfall
Big Bend Falls9.7 km away · Rabun County · 576 m
Kings Creek FallsWaterfall
Kings Creek Falls11 km away · Oconee County · 663 m
Waterfall
Spoonauger Falls12 km away · Oconee County · 665 m
Dick's Creek FallsWaterfall
Dick's Creek Falls13 km away · Rabun County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Oconee State Park?
October 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 Oconee State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:25 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:59 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:13 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Oconee State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Oconee State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Oconee 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 Oconee State Park from Walhalla?
About 11.9 km (7.4 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.