Cumberland Gap is a mountain pass in Lee County, Virginia. It lies in or next to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Harrogate, about 2.8 km (1.7 mi) away (Cumberland Gap lies NNW of town).
The Cumberland Gap is a pass in the eastern United States through the long ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, within the Appalachian Mountains and near the tripoint of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. At an elevation of 1,631 feet (497 m) above sea level, it is famous in American colonial history for its role as a key passageway through the lower central Appalachians. Long used by Native American nations, the Cumberland Gap was brought to the attention of settlers in 1750 by Thomas Walker, a Virginia physician and explorer. The path was used by a team of frontiersmen led by Daniel Boone, making it accessible to pioneers who used it to journey into the western frontiers of Kentucky and Tennessee. An important part of the Wilderness Road, it is now part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.From the Wikipedia article “Cumberland Gap”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cumberland 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 301° (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) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:17 AM | 60° ENE | 8:57 PM | 301° WNW | 77° | 14h 40m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:23 AM | 89° E | 7:33 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:44 AM | 119° ESE | 5:23 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 39m |
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 | 7:19 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:26 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:43 PM | 6:11 PM | 9h 56m |
| February | 6:57 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:42 PM | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:21 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:08 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:36 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 07m |
| May | 6:00 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:04 PM | 14h 07m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:55 AM | 8:17 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:26 PM | 14h 39m |
| July | 5:59 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:06 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:54 PM | 9:24 PM | 14h 26m |
| August | 6:26 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 34m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:10 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:46 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 14m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:50 PM | 9h 40m |
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 Cumberland Gap, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 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 | 5:23 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:39 AM – 6:19 AM | 1.7 | 21° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:30 AM – 5:20 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:37 AM – 4:37 AM | 4.0 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:46 PM – 4:16 AM | 5.5 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:41 PM – 3:01 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:03 PM – 12:53 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 9:11 PM – 10:51 PM | 1.7 | 21° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:26 PM – 8:56 PM | 0.5 | 14° | 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 ≈ 19.89 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 49% 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 | 70 | 74 | 82 | 82 | 93 | 105 | 104 | 102 | 99 | 96 | 84 | 73 |
| Low °F | -1 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 31 | 43 | 52 | 50 | 38 | 25 | 14 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.8 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 4.5 |
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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Cumberland Gap, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cumberland Gap?
What time is golden hour at Cumberland Gap?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cumberland Gap?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cumberland Gap?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cumberland Gap?
How far is Cumberland Gap from Harrogate?
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.