Big Spring State Park is a state park in Howard County, Texas. It sits roughly 2.3 km (1.4 mi) SSW of Big Spring.
Big Spring State Park is a state park in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas, United States and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It was opened in 1936 after the 381.99 acres (154.59 ha) upon which it is situated was deeded to the state by the city of Big Spring in 1934 and 1935. It is named for the natural spring once located on the site that was later replaced by an artificial one.From the Wikipedia article “Big Spring State Park (Texas)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Big Spring 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:51 AM | 90° E | 7:58 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:41 AM | 61° ENE | 8:56 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:35 AM | 89° E | 7:44 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:44 AM | 118° ESE | 5:46 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:24 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 16m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:33 PM | 6:58 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 7:33 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:29 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:19 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:50 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:41 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:04 PM | 13h 48m |
| June | 6:11 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:16 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 15m |
| July | 6:23 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:54 PM | 9:22 PM | 14h 04m |
| August | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:32 PM | 8:58 PM | 13h 21m |
| September | 7:06 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:03 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:18 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:25 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:23 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:39 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:13 PM | 10h 31m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:43 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 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 Big Spring 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 6 (bright 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 | — | 2° | — |
| February | 5:15 AM – 6:05 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:26 AM – 6:26 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:21 AM – 5:41 AM | 3.3 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 12:21 AM – 5:11 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:36 PM – 4:56 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 3:32 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:01 PM – 1:31 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 9:16 PM – 11:26 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:36 PM – 9:26 PM | 0.8 | 18° | 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.1 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 35% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (48%). 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 | 82 | 89 | 95 | 106 | 109 | 112 | 113 | 113 | 105 | 101 | 90 | 80 |
| Low °F | 15 | 11 | 18 | 28 | 36 | 56 | 60 | 60 | 47 | 22 | 18 | 13 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
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
- 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.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- 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.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Big Spring State Park?
What time is golden hour at Big Spring State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Big Spring State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Big Spring State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Big Spring State Park?
How far is Big Spring State Park from Big Spring?
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.