Covered bridge and Pinus resinosa forest at Amnicon Falls State Park, Wisconsin, USA
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46.6109° N91.8914° WBortle 3Chicago

Amnicon Falls Bridge Photography Guide

Covered Bridge in Douglas County, Wisconsin

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 236°–307°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug
Photo: Randen Pederson from Superior · CC BY 2.0 · source

Amnicon Falls Bridge — a covered bridge in Douglas County, Wisconsin — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 18.1 km (11.2 mi) NW of Lake Nebagamon.

Wikidata describes it as: “covered bridge in Amnicon Falls State Park in Wisconsin, USA”.

Nearest town
Lake Nebagamon
18.1 km (11.2 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
July
58% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
2.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:41 PM
sunset 6:22 PM

Light at Amnicon Falls Bridge

Live
Sunrise
7:33 AM
Sunset
6:13 PM
Golden hour AM
7:14 AM – 8:15 AM
Golden hour PM
5:31 PM – 6:32 PM
Blue hour AM
7:02 AM – 7:14 AM
Blue hour PM
6:32 PM – 6:44 PM
Full darkness
7:54 PM – 5:53 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:50 PM / 1:08 AM
Day length
10h 41m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Amnicon Falls Bridge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:11 AM90° E7:20 PM271° W43°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:15 AM54° NE9:05 PM307° NW67°15h 50m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:55 AM89° E7:07 PM271° W44°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:50 AM125° SE4:23 PM236° SW20°8h 33m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:14 AM7:48 AM8:37 AM3:58 PM4:47 PM5:21 PM8h 59m
February6:41 AM7:12 AM7:55 AM4:50 PM5:33 PM6:04 PM10h 20m
March6:51 AM7:21 AM8:01 AM6:33 PM7:13 PM7:43 PM11h 52m
April5:49 AM6:21 AM7:02 AM7:15 PM7:55 PM8:27 PM13h 34m
May4:59 AM5:34 AM6:18 AM7:51 PM8:35 PM9:11 PM15h 01m
June4:35 AM5:14 AM6:01 AM8:16 PM9:03 PM9:43 PM15h 49m
July4:52 AM5:30 AM6:15 AM8:13 PM8:58 PM9:36 PM15h 29m
August5:33 AM6:07 AM6:48 AM7:38 PM8:19 PM8:53 PM14h 13m
September6:16 AM6:46 AM7:26 AM6:41 PM7:21 PM7:52 PM12h 35m
October6:55 AM7:26 AM8:07 AM5:41 PM6:22 PM6:53 PM10h 57m
November6:38 AM7:11 AM7:57 AM3:49 PM4:36 PM5:08 PM9h 25m
December7:11 AM7:46 AM8:37 AM3:30 PM4:21 PM4:56 PM8h 35m

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 Amnicon Falls Bridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
March5:25 AM – 5:35 AM0.211°SSE → SSE
April3:27 AM – 4:27 AM1.014°SSE → S
May1:22 AM – 3:12 AM1.815°SSE → S
June11:52 PM – 2:22 AM2.515°SSE → SSW
July11:30 PM – 1:10 AM1.715°S → SSW
August10:20 PM – 11:10 PM0.813°SSW → SSW
September9:05 PM – 9:05 PM0.011°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
DecemberBelow 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.5 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (76%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F4351737887901009590816753
Low °F-27-25-318253644433115-2-24
Precip. (in)1.01.21.73.23.84.23.73.83.53.51.81.8

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

  • 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.
  • Overcast days keep contrast low between the dark interior and the bright surroundings.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

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 Amnicon Falls Bridge, closest first.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Amnicon Falls Bridge?
July has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Peak fall color is the classic season; winter snow and spring blossoms are less crowded alternatives.
What time is golden hour at Amnicon Falls Bridge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:41 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:22 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:07 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Amnicon Falls Bridge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 54° in June to 125° in December; sunset ranges from 307° to 236°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Amnicon Falls Bridge?
Yes — the core is visible from April to August on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Amnicon Falls Bridge?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Amnicon Falls Bridge from Lake Nebagamon?
About 18.1 km (11.2 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.