Staunton River State Park — a state park in Halifax County, Virginia — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 14.0 km (8.7 mi) NW of Clarksville.
Staunton River State Park is a state park in Virginia. One of the Commonwealth's original state parks, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opening in 1936, it is located along the Staunton River near Scottsburg, Virginia. It is an International Dark Sky Park.From the Wikipedia article “Staunton River State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Staunton River 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 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:19 AM | 90° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:57 AM | 60° ENE | 8:38 PM | 301° WNW | 77° | 14h 40m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:03 AM | 89° E | 7:13 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:24 AM | 119° ESE | 5:03 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 39m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:51 PM | 9h 55m |
| February | 6:38 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:56 PM | 6:22 PM | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:01 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:48 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:40 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 07m |
| June | 5:26 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 39m |
| July | 5:38 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:04 PM | 14h 26m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 35m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:40 PM | 7:06 PM | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:35 PM | 10h 14m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:30 PM | 9h 40m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Staunton River State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:03 AM – 5:33 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:19 AM – 5:59 AM | 1.7 | 21° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:11 AM – 5:01 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:18 AM – 4:18 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:28 PM – 3:58 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:32 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:33 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:32 PM | 1.7 | 21° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:36 PM | 0.5 | 14° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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 ≈ 21.54 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 73 | 77 | 84 | 89 | 95 | 105 | 105 | 104 | 100 | 101 | 82 | 76 |
| Low °F | 7 | 4 | -2 | 24 | 35 | 47 | 56 | 53 | 41 | 27 | 19 | 5 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
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
- 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 Staunton River State Park, closest first.
Dark Sky Place
Waterfall
Scenic Viewpoint
State Park
State ParkWaterfall
LakeScenic Viewpoint
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Buffalo Park6.1 km (3.8 mi) · reservable
- Buffalo Park Picnic Shelter6.3 km (3.9 mi) · reservable
- Longwood Park17.8 km (11.1 mi) · reservable
- Longwood Park Picnic Shelter18.0 km (11.2 mi) · reservable
- Rudds Creek Rec Area Picnic Shelter22 km (14 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Staunton River State Park?
What time is golden hour at Staunton River State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Staunton River State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Staunton River State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Staunton River State Park?
How far is Staunton River State Park from Clarksville?
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.