Bearwallow Gap — a mountain pass in Mitchell County, North Carolina at about 1,058 m (3,471 ft) above sea level — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Unicoi, about 12.1 km (7.5 mi) away (Bearwallow Gap lies SE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bearwallow Gap 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) | 7:34 AM | 90° E | 7:41 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 60° ENE | 8:50 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:18 AM | 89° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 119° ESE | 5:19 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 42m |
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
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:06 PM | 9h 58m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:11 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 | 6:30 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:55 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 05m |
| June | 5:42 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:55 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:17 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:21 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 6:47 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 | 6:20 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 43m |
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 Bearwallow Gap, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:17 AM – 5:47 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:22 AM – 6:12 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 5:23 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:29 AM – 4:39 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:38 PM – 4:18 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:55 PM – 12:55 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:05 PM – 10:55 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:20 PM – 8:50 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.35 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 mountain pass
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Warm layers, Road-condition app. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bearwallow Gap, closest first.
Mountain PassMountain Pass
Mountain PeakMountain Pass
State Park
Mountain Peak
WaterfallWaterfall
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Rock Creek Recreation Area (Cherokee National Forest, Tn)8.1 km (5.0 mi) · reservable
- The Laurels Picnic Area Pavilions15.2 km (9.5 mi) · reservable
- Dennis Cove Campground21 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Katy Branch25 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Cardens Bluff Campground26 km (16 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bearwallow Gap?
What time is golden hour at Bearwallow Gap?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bearwallow Gap?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bearwallow Gap?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bearwallow Gap?
How far is Bearwallow Gap from Unicoi?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.