Located in Laramie County, Wyoming, Curt Gowdy State Park is a state park. It sits roughly 34 km (21 mi) ESE of Laramie.
Curt Gowdy State Park is a public recreation area covering 3,395 acres (5.3 sq mi; 13.7 km2) in Albany and Laramie counties in Wyoming, United States. It is located on Wyoming Highway 210 (Happy Jack Road), halfway between Cheyenne and Laramie, about 24 miles (40 km) from each. The state park is known for its extensive trail system, fishing reservoirs, and Hynds Lodge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park is managed by the Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites.From the Wikipedia article “Curt Gowdy State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Curt Gowdy State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:05 AM | 90° E | 7:13 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:29 AM | 57° ENE | 8:38 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 09m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:49 AM | 89° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:24 AM | 121° ESE | 4:36 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 12m |
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 | 6:54 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:27 PM | 9h 32m |
| February | 6:28 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 39m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:35 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:54 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:09 PM | 13h 19m |
| May | 5:12 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 29m |
| June | 4:55 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:10 PM | 15h 08m |
| July | 5:09 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 51m |
| August | 5:42 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:31 PM | 13h 50m |
| September | 6:15 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:40 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 54m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:04 AM | 3:50 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:05 PM | 9h 14m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Curt Gowdy State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:18 AM – 5:18 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:30 AM – 5:30 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:30 AM – 4:40 AM | 2.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:27 AM – 3:47 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:45 PM – 3:15 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:35 PM – 1:55 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:46 PM – 11:46 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:46 PM – 9:46 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 7:53 PM | 0.0 | 10° | 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 ≈ 21.63 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 53 | 54 | 71 | 77 | 88 | 95 | 96 | 92 | 90 | 77 | 67 | 54 |
| Low °F | -19 | -30 | -10 | -3 | 6 | 28 | 40 | 37 | 22 | 0 | -8 | -20 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
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.
- 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 Curt Gowdy State Park, closest first.
Ghost Town
Botanical Garden
State Park
CanyonCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Vedauwoo Tent Campground (Wy)12.3 km (7.6 mi) · reservable
- Vedauwoo Gazebo12.4 km (7.7 mi) · reservable
- Vedauwoo Campground (Wy)12.7 km (7.9 mi) · reservable
- Yellow Pine Campground (Wy)17.8 km (11.1 mi) · reservable
- Hidden Valley Group Site18.6 km (11.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Curt Gowdy State Park?
What time is golden hour at Curt Gowdy State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Curt Gowdy State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Curt Gowdy State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Curt Gowdy State Park?
How far is Curt Gowdy State Park from Laramie?
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.