Martin Ridge Cave System is a cave in Edmonson County, Kentucky. It lies in or next to Mammoth Cave National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 15.3 km (9.5 mi) W of Cave City.
The Whigpistle Cave System is a large cave near Mammoth Cave, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The system, composed of the interconnected Whigpistle, Martin Ridge, and Jackpot Caves, has been mapped to over 71 kilometers (44 mi), and is currently the United States' twelfth-longest cave.From the Wikipedia article “Whigpistle Cave System”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Martin Ridge Cave System 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 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:49 AM | 90° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:26 AM | 60° ENE | 8:09 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 43m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:33 AM | 89° E | 6:43 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:55 AM | 119° ESE | 4:32 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 36m |
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
Caves are lit artificially — show caves have fixed lighting, so a fast lens and high ISO beat flash, which flattens formations.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:29 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:20 PM | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:08 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:10 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:51 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 6:31 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:52 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:46 PM | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:08 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:15 PM | 14h 09m |
| June | 4:54 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:04 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:38 PM | 14h 42m |
| July | 5:07 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:35 PM | 14h 28m |
| August | 5:34 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:01 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:20 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:09 PM | 6:35 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 5:56 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:02 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:36 PM | 5:04 PM | 10h 12m |
| December | 6:23 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:32 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:29 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 38m |
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 Martin Ridge Cave System, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:43 AM – 5:03 AM | 0.3 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:49 AM – 5:19 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:42 AM – 4:32 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 11:50 PM – 3:50 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:59 PM – 3:29 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:53 PM – 2:03 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:14 PM – 12:04 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 8:22 PM – 10:02 PM | 1.7 | 21° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:36 PM – 8:06 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 ≈ 21.56 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 | 70 | 72 | 81 | 83 | 91 | 108 | 107 | 103 | 102 | 96 | 83 | 72 |
| Low °F | -1 | -9 | -2 | 22 | 34 | 47 | 52 | 51 | 36 | 25 | 8 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.6 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 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 cave
- Follow White-nose Syndrome decontamination rules where posted to protect bats.
- Many show caves restrict tripods on tours; ask in advance or bring a small beanbag.
- Use manual focus with focus peaking in low light.
- Never touch formations — skin oils stop their growth.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Cave interiors stay at a constant temperature year-round; summer tours fill up, so book ahead.
Suggested gear: Fast lens (f/1.8–f/2.8), High-ISO camera, Small beanbag. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Martin Ridge Cave System, closest first.
Cave
Cave
Cave
Cave
State Park
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Mammoth Picnic Shelters7.4 km (4.6 mi) · reservable
- Mammoth Cave Campground8.5 km (5.3 mi) · reservable
- Maple Springs9.7 km (6.1 mi) · reservable
- Tailwater Day Use (Nolin River Lake)20 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Dog Creek Day Use (Ky)22 km (14 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Martin Ridge Cave System?
What time is golden hour at Martin Ridge Cave System?
Where does the sun rise and set at Martin Ridge Cave System?
Can you see the Milky Way from Martin Ridge Cave System?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Martin Ridge Cave System?
How far is Martin Ridge Cave System from Cave City?
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.