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North Carolina Photography Guide

South · 482 locations

482 photo locations in North Carolina — 132 waterfalls, 100 scenic viewpoints, 55 mountain passes, 44 mountain peaks and more — plus 12 National Park Service sites and golden hour times for 50 cities. Milky Way core season runs February–October (best in June). Aurora needs about Kp 9.0+ in central North Carolina. Wildflowers peak around April.

Photo locations
482
NPS sites
12
Milky Way season
Feb–Oct
Peak bloom
April
Aurora
Kp 9.0+

Top photo locations in North Carolina

Mount MitchellMountain Peak
Mount MitchellYancey County · 2,037 m
Bodie Island LightLighthouse
Bodie Island LightDare County
Roanoke ColonyGhost Town
Roanoke ColonyDare County
Coquina BeachBeach
Coquina BeachDare County
Cape Hatteras LighthouseLighthouse
Cape Hatteras LighthouseDare County
KuwohiMountain Peak
KuwohiSwain County
Bridal Veil FallsWaterfall
Bridal Veil FallsTransylvania County · 791 m
Dry FallsWaterfall
Dry FallsMacon County · 1,020 m
Mitchell FallsWaterfall
Mitchell FallsYancey County · 1,511 m
High FallsWaterfall
High FallsTransylvania County · 737 m
Hooker FallsWaterfall
Hooker FallsTransylvania County · 679 m
Upper Whitewater FallsWaterfall
Upper Whitewater FallsJackson County · 757 m

Browse by type

Waterfalls132Scenic Viewpoints100Mountain Passes55Mountain Peaks44Beaches43State Parks40Lighthouses16Botanical Gardens14National Wildlife Refuges11Wilderness Areas11Lakes6Ghost Towns2Covered Bridges2Fire Lookouts2Rock Formations1Caves1Natural Arches1Hot Springs1

National Park Service sites in North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNC/TN
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNational Park
Cape Hatteras National SeashoreNC
Cape Hatteras National SeashoreNational Seashore
Cape Lookout National SeashoreNC
Cape Lookout National SeashoreNational Seashore
Blue Ridge ParkwayNC/VA
Blue Ridge ParkwayParkway
CT/GA
Appalachian National Scenic TrailNational Scenic Trail
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic SiteNC
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic SiteNational Historic Site
Fort Raleigh National Historic SiteNC
Fort Raleigh National Historic SiteNational Historic Site
Wright Brothers National MemorialNC
Wright Brothers National MemorialNational Memorial
Guilford Courthouse National Military ParkNC
Guilford Courthouse National Military ParkNational Military Park
Moores Creek National BattlefieldNC
Moores Creek National BattlefieldNational Battlefield
Overmountain Victory National Historic TrailNC/SC
Overmountain Victory National Historic TrailNational Historic Trail
Trail Of Tears National Historic TrailAL/AR
Trail Of Tears National Historic TrailNational Historic Trail

Golden hour in North Carolina cities

Charlotte, NCPop. 911,311
Raleigh, NCPop. 482,295
GR
Greensboro, NCPop. 285,342
Durham, NCPop. 257,636
WS
Winston-Salem, NCPop. 241,218
FA
Fayetteville, NCPop. 201,963
CA
Cary, NCPop. 159,769
WI
Wilmington, NCPop. 115,933
High Point, NCPop. 110,268
Asheville, NCPop. 95,056
GR
Greenville, NCPop. 90,597
CO
Concord, NCPop. 87,696

Night sky

Darkest skies in North Carolina

Scenic Viewpoint
Cape Lookout National SeashoreCarteret County
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout PointCarteret County · 5 m
State Park
Pettigrew State ParkTyrrell County
Scenic Viewpoint
Bee Tree OverlookTyrrell County · 3 m
Stone Mountain State ParkState Park
Stone Mountain State ParkWilkes County
Lumber River State ParkState Park
Lumber River State ParkRobeson County

Nature calendars

Scenic byways in North Carolina

Map