Elizabethton Covered Bridge — a covered bridge in Carter County, Tennessee — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It dates from 1882.
The Elizabethton Covered Bridge is a 134-foot (41 m) covered bridge over the Doe River in Elizabethton, the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee. The Elizabethton Covered Bridge was constructed in 1882 and connects 3rd Street and Hattie Avenue.From the Wikipedia article “Elizabethton Covered Bridge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Elizabethton Covered Bridge 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 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:33 AM | 90° E | 7:41 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:12 AM | 60° ENE | 8:51 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 38m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 119° ESE | 5:18 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 41m |
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 | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:19 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:05 PM | 9h 57m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:37 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:15 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:29 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 07m |
| May | 5:55 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 06m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 37m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:17 PM | 14h 24m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 15m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 42m |
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 Elizabethton Covered Bridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:17 AM – 5:47 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:32 AM – 6:12 AM | 1.7 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:24 AM – 5:24 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:40 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:39 PM – 4:19 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:34 PM – 2:54 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:56 PM – 12:46 AM | 2.8 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:05 PM – 10:45 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:20 PM – 8:50 PM | 0.5 | 15° | 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: 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 ≈ 19.54 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% 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 | 71 | 74 | 80 | 83 | 90 | 102 | 101 | 99 | 97 | 95 | 81 | 74 |
| Low °F | -2 | -3 | 7 | 20 | 33 | 41 | 51 | 49 | 37 | 23 | 15 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.8 |
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 covered bridge
- 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.
- Many covered bridges still carry traffic; stay off the roadway and watch for vehicles.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Elizabethton Covered Bridge, closest first.
State Park
Waterfall
State ParkWaterfall
State ParkWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Cardens Bluff Campground9.6 km (6.0 mi) · reservable
- Watauga Point Recreation Area11.7 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- The Laurels Picnic Area Pavilions12.1 km (7.5 mi) · reservable
- Dennis Cove Campground13.5 km (8.4 mi) · reservable
- Little Oak Campground23 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Elizabethton Covered Bridge?
What time is golden hour at Elizabethton Covered Bridge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Elizabethton Covered Bridge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Elizabethton Covered Bridge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Elizabethton Covered Bridge?
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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.