Located in Sumter County, South Carolina, Woods Bay State Park is a state park. The nearest town is Timmonsville, about 22 km (13 mi) away (Woods Bay State Park lies SSW of town).
Woods Bay State Park is a state park located near the town of Olanta in Florence County, South Carolina. The park contains some of the last remaining large Carolina Bays. Recent work by the U.S. Geological Survey has interpreted the Carolina Bays as relict thermokarst lakes that formed several thousands of years ago when the climate was colder, drier, and windier. Thermokarst lakes develop by thawing of frozen ground (permafrost) and by subsequent modification by wind and water. Thus, this interpretation suggests that permafrost once extended as far south as the Carolina Bays during the last ice age and (or) previous ice ages. Activities available at the park include picnicking, fishing, hiking, bird watching and geocaching. Canoeing is also popular on the one-mile canoe trail in the Carolina Bay. While private boats are not allowed, rental canoes and kayaks are available. Amenities...From the Wikipedia article “Woods Bay State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Woods Bay State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:25 AM | 90° E | 7:32 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:10 AM | 61° ENE | 8:35 PM | 299° WNW | 79° | 14h 25m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:09 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:22 AM | 118° ESE | 5:16 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 53m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:01 PM | 10h 08m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:30 PM | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:17 PM | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:52 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:42 PM | 13h 55m |
| June | 5:40 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:02 PM | 14h 24m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 12m |
| August | 6:16 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:53 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:12 PM | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:44 PM | 10h 25m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:13 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 55m |
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 Woods Bay State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:58 AM – 5:38 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:11 AM – 6:01 AM | 1.8 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:09 AM – 5:19 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 12:12 AM – 4:32 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:18 PM – 4:18 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:14 PM – 2:54 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:40 PM – 12:50 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:53 PM – 10:53 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:10 PM – 8:50 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 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 ≈ 21.58 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (57%). 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 | 77 | 78 | 82 | 93 | 100 | 102 | 101 | 101 | 96 | 95 | 82 | 79 |
| Low °F | 17 | 21 | 25 | 35 | 47 | 59 | 65 | 61 | 53 | 38 | 27 | 22 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.4 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
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
- 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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Woods Bay State Park, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Woods Bay State Park?
What time is golden hour at Woods Bay State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Woods Bay State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Woods Bay State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Woods Bay State Park?
How far is Woods Bay State Park from Timmonsville?
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.