Bernheim Forest and Arboretum is a botanical garden in Bullitt County, Kentucky. The nearest town is Shepherdsville, about 9.0 km (5.6 mi) away (Bernheim Forest and Arboretum lies SSE of town).
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, formerly Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, is a 16,346-acre (66.15 km2) arboretum, forest, and nature preserve located in Clermont, Kentucky (25 miles south of Louisville, Kentucky, United States). Bernheim was founded in 1929 by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, a German immigrant and successful brewer whose whiskey distillery business established the I.W. Harper brand. He purchased the land in 1928 at $1 an acre because most of it had been stripped for mining iron ore. The Frederick Law Olmsted landscape architecture firm started work on designing the park in 1931 and it opened in 1950. Bernheim Forest was given to the people of Kentucky in trust and is the largest privately owned natural area in the state. Bernheim, his wife, daughter, and son-in-law are buried in the forest.From the Wikipedia article “Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bernheim Forest and Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:47 AM | 90° E | 7:55 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:21 AM | 59° ENE | 9:09 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 48m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:31 AM | 89° E | 7:41 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:56 AM | 120° ESE | 5:27 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 32m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:29 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:38 AM | 5:08 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:16 PM | 9h 49m |
| February | 7:07 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:10 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:49 PM | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:29 AM | 7:55 AM | 8:30 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:16 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:41 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:46 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:04 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:00 AM | 8:28 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:39 PM | 14h 47m |
| July | 6:02 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:06 PM | 9:36 PM | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:05 PM | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:59 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:00 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:19 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:25 AM | 7:52 AM | 8:27 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:32 PM | 6:00 PM | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:23 AM | 7:52 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:55 PM | 9h 33m |
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 Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:40 AM – 6:00 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:48 AM – 6:18 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:52 AM – 5:32 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:52 AM – 4:42 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 11:03 PM – 4:23 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:57 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:16 PM – 12:56 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:22 PM – 10:52 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:34 PM – 8:54 PM | 0.3 | 13° | 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: 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 ≈ 20.65 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ 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 46% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (70%). 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 | 69 | 73 | 82 | 84 | 91 | 106 | 106 | 104 | 101 | 98 | 83 | 71 |
| Low °F | 0 | -3 | 0 | 22 | 34 | 46 | 53 | 50 | 38 | 25 | 8 | -5 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.8 |
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 botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bernheim Forest and Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bernheim Forest and Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum?
How far is Bernheim Forest and Arboretum from Shepherdsville?
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.