David Crockett State Park — a state park in Lawrence County, Tennessee — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Lawrenceburg, about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) away (David Crockett State Park lies WNW of town).
David Crockett State Park is a state park in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The park is located on Shoal Creek (originally called the Sycamore River) and commemorates the historical activities of famous frontiersman David Crockett in the local area. Crockett settled near the creek bank in 1817 and started a powder mill, grist mill and distillery using the creek's water power. By 1820, he owned 614 acres (248 ha) of land at Shoal Creek. He also served as one of Lawrence County's first commissioners and justices of the peace. After his industrial operations were destroyed by a flood in September 1821, Crockett left the area and moved to West Tennessee. The park was established in 1959 on 1,100 acres (450 ha) of land that includes the site where Crockett had his mills and distillery.From the Wikipedia article “David Crockett State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At David Crockett 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 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:36 AM | 60° ENE | 8:08 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 32m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:48 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:55 AM | 119° ESE | 4:42 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 47m |
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 | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:28 PM | 10h 02m |
| February | 6:11 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 55m |
| March | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:52 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:48 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:18 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:15 PM | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 31m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 19m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:07 PM | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:08 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:06 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:24 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:30 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:41 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 5:58 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:12 PM | 10h 19m |
| December | 6:23 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:39 PM | 5:08 PM | 9h 48m |
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 David Crockett 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 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:37 AM – 5:07 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:41 AM – 5:31 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:41 AM – 4:41 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 11:46 PM – 3:56 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:53 PM – 3:43 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:49 PM – 2:19 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:12 PM – 12:12 AM | 3.0 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:23 PM – 10:13 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:40 PM – 8:20 PM | 0.7 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.83 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (67%). 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 | 73 | 82 | 86 | 93 | 109 | 105 | 108 | 101 | 99 | 87 | 74 |
| Low °F | 2 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 35 | 50 | 53 | 51 | 39 | 28 | 12 | 5 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.1 | 5.6 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 5.1 |
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
- 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.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 David Crockett State Park, closest first.
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Natural Arch
Scenic ViewpointFAQ
When is the best time to photograph David Crockett State Park?
What time is golden hour at David Crockett State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at David Crockett State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from David Crockett State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at David Crockett State Park?
How far is David Crockett State Park from Lawrenceburg?
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.