New Salem Covered Bridge — a covered bridge in Banks County, Georgia — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Commerce, about 6.8 km (4.2 mi) away (New Salem Covered Bridge lies NNE of town). It dates from 1915. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The New Salem Covered Bridge, near Commerce, Georgia, was a multiple kingpost truss covered bridge built in 1915. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It spanned a branch of Grove Creek, and was located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Commerce on SR S992. By 1974 it had been bypassed by a modern concrete bridge, so it was no longer used. It was a 47 feet (14 m) long single span bridge and collapsed in 1984.From the Wikipedia article “New Salem Covered Bridge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At New Salem Covered Bridge 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:38 AM | 90° E | 7:46 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:23 AM | 61° ENE | 8:50 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 27m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:22 AM | 89° E | 7:32 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 118° ESE | 5:28 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 52m |
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
Covered bridges look their best with soft side-light and a backdrop of fall color, snow or fresh spring green.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:13 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 07m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:43 PM | 10h 58m |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:18 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:07 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:31 PM | 13h 02m |
| May | 6:05 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:53 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:59 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:17 PM | 14h 26m |
| July | 6:05 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:10 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 14m |
| August | 6:29 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:49 PM | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:51 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:13 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:41 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 23m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:54 PM | 9h 53m |
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 New Salem Covered Bridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:12 AM – 5:52 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:26 AM – 6:16 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:24 AM – 5:34 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 12:27 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:33 PM – 4:33 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:29 PM – 3:09 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:54 PM – 1:04 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 9:07 PM – 11:07 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:24 PM – 9:04 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.03 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (59%). 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 | 72 | 75 | 81 | 86 | 92 | 108 | 107 | 103 | 100 | 100 | 84 | 74 |
| Low °F | 3 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 34 | 49 | 55 | 54 | 40 | 27 | 18 | 12 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 5.7 |
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 covered bridge
- Many covered bridges still carry traffic; stay off the roadway and watch for vehicles.
- Overcast days keep contrast low between the dark interior and the bright surroundings.
- Autumn foliage peaks are the most popular time — visit on weekdays to avoid crowds.
- Shoot from the stream bank to show the bridge, the water and its reflection together.
- Inside the bridge, the timber trusses make strong symmetrical compositions — use a tripod for long exposures.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Peak fall color is the classic season; winter snow and spring blossoms are less crowded alternatives.
Suggested gear: Wide-angle lens, Tripod, Polarizer for foliage. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of New Salem Covered Bridge, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph New Salem Covered Bridge?
What time is golden hour at New Salem Covered Bridge?
Where does the sun rise and set at New Salem Covered Bridge?
Can you see the Milky Way from New Salem Covered Bridge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at New Salem Covered Bridge?
How far is New Salem Covered Bridge from Commerce?
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.