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35.3690° N82.8568° W1,714 mBortle 3New York

Beech Spring Gap Photography Guide

Mountain Pass in Haywood County, North Carolina · 1,714 m (5,623 ft)

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Located in Haywood County, North Carolina, Beech Spring Gap is a mountain pass at about 1,714 m (5,623 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 17.3 km (10.7 mi) SE of Hazelwood.

Elevation
1,714 m
5,623 ft
Nearest town
Hazelwood
17.3 km (10.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
October
47% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:23 PM
sunset 6:58 PM

Light at Beech Spring Gap

Live
Sunrise
7:43 AM
Sunset
6:51 PM
Golden hour AM
7:27 AM – 8:17 AM
Golden hour PM
6:16 PM – 7:07 PM
Blue hour AM
7:17 AM – 7:27 AM
Blue hour PM
7:07 PM – 7:17 PM
Full darkness
8:16 PM – 6:18 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:52 PM / 1:57 AM
Day length
11h 09m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. 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 Beech Spring 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:36 AM90° E7:43 PM271° W55°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:18 AM60° ENE8:50 PM300° WNW78°14h 33m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:20 AM89° E7:30 PM271° W55°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:37 AM119° ESE5:23 PM242° WSW31°9h 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

Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:13 AM7:41 AM8:19 AM5:04 PM5:42 PM6:10 PM10h 02m
February6:53 AM7:19 AM7:54 AM5:39 PM6:14 PM6:40 PM10h 55m
March7:18 AM7:43 AM8:17 AM7:06 PM7:39 PM8:05 PM11h 56m
April6:34 AM7:00 AM7:34 AM7:30 PM8:04 PM8:31 PM13h 05m
May6:00 AM6:28 AM7:04 AM7:53 PM8:29 PM8:58 PM14h 01m
June5:47 AM6:17 AM6:54 AM8:11 PM8:49 PM9:19 PM14h 32m
July5:59 AM6:28 AM7:05 AM8:11 PM8:48 PM9:17 PM14h 19m
August6:25 AM6:52 AM7:26 AM7:47 PM8:22 PM8:49 PM13h 30m
September6:49 AM7:15 AM7:49 AM7:07 PM7:40 PM8:06 PM12h 25m
October7:13 AM7:38 AM8:13 AM6:23 PM6:58 PM7:23 PM11h 19m
November6:40 AM7:07 AM7:44 AM4:49 PM5:26 PM5:53 PM10h 19m
December7:06 AM7:34 AM8:13 AM4:42 PM5:21 PM5:49 PM9h 47m

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 Beech Spring Gap, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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—-1°—
February5:19 AM – 5:49 AM0.515°SE → SE
March4:23 AM – 6:13 AM1.822°SE → SSE
April2:23 AM – 5:23 AM3.026°SE → S
May12:28 AM – 4:38 AM4.226°SE → SSW
June10:35 PM – 4:25 AM5.826°SE → SW
July10:31 PM – 3:01 AM4.526°SSE → SW
August9:54 PM – 12:54 AM3.026°S → SW
September9:05 PM – 10:55 PM1.823°SSW → SW
October8:22 PM – 9:02 PM0.715°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

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 ≈ 21.4 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (60%). 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 °F70727981881011009894928072
Low °F-2-352132424947352495
Precip. (in)3.84.24.14.54.74.75.34.74.73.84.14.8

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

  • Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
  • Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
  • 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.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

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 Beech Spring Gap, closest first.

Shining RockMountain Peak
Shining Rock0.5 km away · Haywood County · 1,821 m
Shining Rock WildernessWilderness Area
Shining Rock Wilderness1.9 km away · Haywood County
Cold MountainMountain Peak
Cold Mountain4.5 km away · Haywood County · 1,820 m
Black Balsam KnobMountain Peak
Black Balsam Knob4.8 km away · Haywood County · 1,892 m
Waterfall
Yellowstone Falls5.2 km away · Haywood County · 1,460 m
Waterfall
Second Falls5.4 km away · Haywood County · 1,494 m
Waterfall
Upper Falls5.7 km away · Haywood County · 1,630 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Cherry Cove Parking Overlook5.9 km away · Transylvania County · 1,383 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Looking Glass Rock Parking Overlook5.9 km away · Transylvania County · 1,383 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Beech Spring Gap?
October 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. Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
What time is golden hour at Beech Spring Gap?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:23 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:58 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:13 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Beech Spring Gap?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Beech Spring Gap?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Beech Spring Gap?
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 Beech Spring Gap from Hazelwood?
About 17.3 km (10.7 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.