The Civilian Conservation Corps built concession building now serves as the park headquarters of Bonham State Park in Fannin County, Texas, United States.
  1. Home
  2. State Parks
  3. Texas
  4. Bonham State Park
33.5439° N96.1433° WBortle 4Chicago

Bonham State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Fannin County, Texas

  • Bortle 4 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–299°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0 · source

Bonham State Park is a state park in Fannin County, Texas. It sits roughly 4.9 km (3.0 mi) SE of Bonham.

Bonham State Park is a 261-acre (1.06 km2) state park located near Bonham, Texas in Fannin County, United States. The park opened in 1936 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.From the Wikipedia article “Bonham State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Bonham
4.9 km (3.0 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 4
Rural / suburban transition
Clearest month
September
38% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:19 PM
sunset 6:52 PM

Light at Bonham State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:34 AM
Sunset
6:46 PM
Golden hour AM
7:18 AM – 8:08 AM
Golden hour PM
6:12 PM – 7:02 PM
Blue hour AM
7:09 AM – 7:18 AM
Blue hour PM
7:02 PM – 7:11 PM
Full darkness
8:09 PM – 6:12 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:43 PM / 1:56 AM
Day length
11h 12m
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 Bonham 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 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:29 AM90° E7:37 PM271° W56°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:16 AM61° ENE8:38 PM299° WNW80°14h 23m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:13 AM89° E7:23 PM271° W57°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:26 AM118° ESE5:21 PM242° WSW33°9h 55m

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
January7:02 AM7:29 AM8:06 AM5:03 PM5:40 PM6:07 PM10h 10m
February6:44 AM7:10 AM7:44 AM5:35 PM6:10 PM6:35 PM11h 00m
March7:11 AM7:36 AM8:09 AM7:00 PM7:33 PM7:58 PM11h 57m
April6:29 AM6:55 AM7:28 AM7:22 PM7:56 PM8:21 PM13h 01m
May5:58 AM6:25 AM7:00 AM7:43 PM8:19 PM8:46 PM13h 54m
June5:46 AM6:15 AM6:52 AM8:00 PM8:37 PM9:06 PM14h 22m
July5:58 AM6:26 AM7:02 AM8:00 PM8:36 PM9:04 PM14h 10m
August6:21 AM6:48 AM7:22 AM7:38 PM8:12 PM8:39 PM13h 25m
September6:44 AM7:09 AM7:42 AM7:00 PM7:33 PM7:58 PM12h 24m
October7:05 AM7:30 AM8:03 AM6:19 PM6:52 PM7:17 PM11h 22m
November6:31 AM6:57 AM7:33 AM4:47 PM5:23 PM5:50 PM10h 26m
December6:55 AM7:22 AM8:00 AM4:41 PM5:19 PM5:46 PM9h 57m

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 Bonham State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
February5:04 AM – 5:44 AM0.717°SE → SE
March4:06 AM – 6:06 AM2.024°SE → SSE
April2:03 AM – 5:23 AM3.328°SE → S
May12:15 AM – 4:45 AM4.528°SE → SSW
June10:20 PM – 4:30 AM6.228°SE → SW
July10:16 PM – 3:06 AM4.828°SSE → SW
August9:43 PM – 1:03 AM3.328°S → SW
September8:57 PM – 10:57 PM2.024°SSW → SW
October8:15 PM – 8:55 PM0.717°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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.58 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (57%). August 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 °F80848796100106113113108968981
Low °F6131528375662594827199
Precip. (in)2.53.23.73.85.03.82.62.83.44.22.63.0

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.

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Bonham State Park?
September 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 Bonham State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:19 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:52 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:03 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Bonham State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Bonham State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bonham 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 Bonham State Park from Bonham?
About 4.9 km (3.0 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.