Robert Parker Coffin Bridge is a covered bridge in Lake County, Illinois. It dates from 1906. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Robert Parker Coffin Bridge (formerly known as the Buffalo Creek Bridge) is a Pratt pony truss bridge that spans Buffalo Creek in Long Grove, Illinois, United States. Standing 41 feet (12 m) long, it was built in 1906 by the Joliet Bridge and Iron Company. It is one of the few remaining bridges of its kind in the Chicago area and the state of Illinois, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. In 1972, the town added a low-hanging decorative wooden covering in an effort to deter large commercial vehicles; with a clearance height of 10 feet 6 inches (3.20 m), the covering has been frequently struck by trucks, buses, and other vehicles, particularly in recent years. A 2018 collision closed the span for months as the covering was reconstructed and reinforced with steel, and the dozens of strikes it has sustained since then have only done minor damage to...From the Wikipedia article “Robert Parker Coffin Bridge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Robert Parker Coffin Bridge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:56 AM | 90° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:17 AM | 57° ENE | 8:32 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:40 AM | 89° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:18 AM | 122° ESE | 4:24 PM | 239° WSW | 24° | 9h 06m |
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 | 6:48 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:16 PM | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:54 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 6:37 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:27 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:43 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:00 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:39 PM | 14h 35m |
| June | 4:41 AM | 5:16 AM | 5:59 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:05 PM | 15h 15m |
| July | 4:56 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:27 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 58m |
| August | 5:30 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:05 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:32 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:37 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:12 PM | 6:40 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:25 AM | 3:50 PM | 4:32 PM | 5:02 PM | 9h 49m |
| December | 6:43 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:36 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:53 PM | 9h 07m |
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 Robert Parker Coffin Bridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:32 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:25 AM – 4:25 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 12:34 AM – 3:24 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:44 PM – 2:54 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:34 PM – 1:34 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:42 PM – 11:32 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:39 PM – 9:29 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.44 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ 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 58% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (85%). August 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 | 50 | 54 | 65 | 68 | 79 | 83 | 91 | 88 | 84 | 75 | 68 | 58 |
| Low °F | -9 | -2 | 0 | 25 | 34 | 40 | 53 | 56 | 47 | 34 | 19 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
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 Robert Parker Coffin Bridge, closest first.
Lake
Botanical Garden
Lake
Lake
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Robert Parker Coffin Bridge?
What time is golden hour at Robert Parker Coffin Bridge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Robert Parker Coffin Bridge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Robert Parker Coffin Bridge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Robert Parker Coffin Bridge?
How far is Robert Parker Coffin Bridge from Long Grove?
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.