Big Stillwater Covered Bridge — a covered bridge in Penobscot County, Maine — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 3.4 km (2.1 mi) NNW of Orono. It dates from 1835.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Big Stillwater Covered Bridge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:39 AM | 90° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:49 AM | 55° NE | 8:25 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:22 AM | 89° E | 6:34 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:10 AM | 123° ESE | 3:57 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 46m |
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 | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:56 AM | 3:33 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:52 PM | 9h 10m |
| February | 6:06 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:18 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:33 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:41 PM | 7:10 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:20 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:50 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 4:33 AM | 5:07 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 50m |
| June | 4:11 AM | 4:49 AM | 5:34 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:23 PM | 9:01 PM | 15h 35m |
| July | 4:27 AM | 5:03 AM | 5:47 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:55 PM | 15h 16m |
| August | 5:05 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:15 PM | 14h 06m |
| September | 5:45 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:17 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:21 PM | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:01 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:17 AM | 3:23 PM | 4:08 PM | 4:39 PM | 9h 35m |
| December | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:06 PM | 3:55 PM | 4:29 PM | 8h 48m |
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 Big Stillwater Covered Bridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 4:39 AM – 4:59 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:38 AM – 3:58 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:36 AM – 2:56 AM | 2.3 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:57 PM – 2:07 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:41 PM – 12:51 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:38 PM – 10:58 PM | 1.3 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:29 PM – 8:49 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.78 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.0+ 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 53% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). 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 | 53 | 51 | 72 | 73 | 81 | 88 | 89 | 93 | 94 | 79 | 64 | 60 |
| Low °F | -19 | -19 | -13 | 15 | 29 | 38 | 49 | 47 | 36 | 24 | 6 | -15 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
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
- Inside the bridge, the timber trusses make strong symmetrical compositions — use a tripod for long exposures.
- 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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Big Stillwater Covered Bridge, closest first.
Botanical Garden
National Wildlife Refuge
Covered Bridge
Covered BridgeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Big Stillwater Covered Bridge?
What time is golden hour at Big Stillwater Covered Bridge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Big Stillwater Covered Bridge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Big Stillwater Covered Bridge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Big Stillwater Covered Bridge?
How far is Big Stillwater Covered Bridge from Orono?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata. 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.