Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway — a state park in Palo Pinto County, Texas — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Mineral Wells, about 9.0 km (5.6 mi) away (Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway lies ENE of town).
Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway is a 3,282.5 acres (1,328 ha) state park located in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The park opened in 1981 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It includes Lake Mineral Wells and is the only state park in Texas which protects part of the Western Cross Timbers and Mineral Wells Trailway. Also within the park is Penitentiary Hollow, a somewhat unusual geological feature which resembles a small canyon. It is a popular site for rock climbing, though the only type of climbing allowed is top rope. The park also features over 31 miles (50 km) of hiking trails, 25 miles (40 km) of which are open to bicycles and horses. Campsites can be found by the small lake, and up on the higher areas of the park, as well.From the Wikipedia article “Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway 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 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:37 AM | 90° E | 7:44 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:25 AM | 61° ENE | 8:44 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 19m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:21 AM | 89° E | 7:30 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:32 AM | 118° ESE | 5:30 PM | 242° WSW | 34° | 9h 59m |
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 | 7:09 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 13m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:43 PM | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:16 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:05 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:38 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:36 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:28 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 51m |
| June | 5:56 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:43 PM | 9:11 PM | 14h 18m |
| July | 6:07 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:10 PM | 14h 07m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:05 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:10 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:25 PM | 11h 23m |
| November | 6:37 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 29m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 00m |
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 Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway, 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| February | 5:01 AM – 5:51 AM | 0.8 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:12 AM – 6:12 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 12:09 AM – 4:49 AM | 4.7 | 28° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:24 PM – 4:34 AM | 6.2 | 28° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:20 PM – 3:10 AM | 4.8 | 28° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:48 PM – 1:08 AM | 3.3 | 28° | S → SW |
| September | 9:03 PM – 11:13 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:22 PM – 9:12 PM | 0.8 | 17° | 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: 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 ≈ 20.94 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 37% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (53%). 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 | 84 | 90 | 93 | 102 | 108 | 109 | 111 | 111 | 106 | 101 | 91 | 84 |
| Low °F | 15 | 12 | 16 | 30 | 38 | 59 | 64 | 63 | 48 | 25 | 19 | 15 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway?
What time is golden hour at Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway?
Where does the sun rise and set at Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway?
Can you see the Milky Way from Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway?
How far is Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway from Mineral Wells?
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.