Buffalo Wallow, a spring-fed pond in Abilene State Park, Texas, United States is a popular spot for fishing, birding, and wildlife viewing.
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32.2353° N99.8800° WBortle 3Chicago

Abilene State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Taylor County, Texas

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 243°–299°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0 · source

Located in Taylor County, Texas, Abilene State Park is a state park. It sits roughly 24 km (15 mi) WSW of Potosi.

Abilene State Park is a 529.4-acre (214.2 ha) state park next to Lake Abilene in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The park opened on May 10, 1934, and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.From the Wikipedia article “Abilene State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Potosi
24 km (15 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
October
36% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.3 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:35 PM
sunset 7:08 PM

Light at Abilene State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:47 AM
Sunset
7:02 PM
Golden hour AM
7:32 AM – 8:21 AM
Golden hour PM
6:29 PM – 7:18 PM
Blue hour AM
7:23 AM – 7:32 AM
Blue hour PM
7:18 PM – 7:27 PM
Full darkness
8:24 PM – 6:26 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:56 PM / 2:13 AM
Day length
11h 15m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. 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 Abilene 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 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:44 AM90° E7:51 PM271° W58°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:34 AM61° ENE8:50 PM299° WNW81°14h 16m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:28 AM89° E7:38 PM271° W58°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:37 AM118° ESE5:39 PM243° WSW34°10h 02m

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
January7:15 AM7:42 AM8:18 AM5:21 PM5:58 PM6:24 PM10h 16m
February6:58 AM7:23 AM7:57 AM5:52 PM6:26 PM6:51 PM11h 03m
March7:26 AM7:51 AM8:23 AM7:16 PM7:48 PM8:12 PM11h 57m
April6:46 AM7:11 AM7:44 AM7:36 PM8:09 PM8:34 PM12h 58m
May6:16 AM6:43 AM7:17 AM7:56 PM8:31 PM8:58 PM13h 48m
June6:05 AM6:33 AM7:09 AM8:12 PM8:48 PM9:17 PM14h 15m
July6:16 AM6:44 AM7:19 AM8:13 PM8:48 PM9:16 PM14h 04m
August6:39 AM7:05 AM7:38 AM7:52 PM8:25 PM8:51 PM13h 21m
September7:00 AM7:24 AM7:57 AM7:15 PM7:47 PM8:12 PM12h 23m
October7:19 AM7:44 AM8:17 AM6:35 PM7:08 PM7:33 PM11h 24m
November6:44 AM7:10 AM7:45 AM5:05 PM5:41 PM6:06 PM10h 31m
December7:07 AM7:34 AM8:11 AM5:00 PM5:37 PM6:04 PM10h 03m

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 Abilene State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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°—
February5:09 AM – 5:59 AM0.818°SE → SE
March4:20 AM – 6:20 AM2.025°SE → SSE
April2:15 AM – 5:35 AM3.329°SE → S
May12:15 AM – 5:05 AM4.829°SE → SSW
June10:30 PM – 4:50 AM6.329°SE → SW
July10:26 PM – 3:26 AM5.029°SSE → SW
August9:55 PM – 1:25 AM3.529°S → SW
September9:10 PM – 11:20 PM2.226°SSW → SW
October8:30 PM – 9:20 PM0.818°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
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 ≈ 21.59 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (51%). 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 °F8390931041101091101111051009082
Low °F15816293757636248241913
Precip. (in)1.21.72.32.33.83.42.42.43.22.91.71.2

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

  • 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.
  • Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
  • Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.

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 Abilene State Park, closest first.

Waterfall
Butman Falls20 km away · Taylor County · 705 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Abilene 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 Abilene State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:35 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:08 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:17 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Abilene State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 243°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Abilene 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 Abilene 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 Abilene State Park from Potosi?
About 24 km (15 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.