Located in Warren County, Virginia, Manassas Gap is a mountain pass. It sits roughly 2.8 km (1.7 mi) SE of Apple Mountain Lake.
Manassas Gap is a wind gap of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the border of Fauquier County and Warren County in Virginia. At an elevation of 887 feet above sea level, it is the lowest crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the state. The origins of the name "Manassas" are undocumented. The Manassas Gap Railroad was completed through this pass in 1854, and today, the tracks form a part of the Norfolk Southern rail system. Virginia State Route 55 and Interstate 66 also pass through Manassas Gap. In addition the north-south Appalachian Trail crosses the gap as well. Virginia's independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park derived their names from the railroad which was built through Manassas Gap.From the Wikipedia article “Manassas Gap”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Manassas Gap the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:17 AM | 90° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:48 AM | 59° ENE | 8:42 PM | 302° WNW | 75° | 14h 54m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:01 AM | 89° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:28 AM | 120° ESE | 4:54 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 26m |
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 | 7:01 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 44m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 6:58 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:46 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:09 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:17 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:31 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:15 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:27 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 53m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 38m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:55 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:02 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:28 PM | 10h 04m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 27m |
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 Manassas Gap, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:19 AM – 5:29 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:28 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:24 AM – 4:54 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:26 AM – 4:06 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:39 PM – 3:39 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 2:22 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:48 PM – 12:18 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:53 PM – 10:13 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:04 PM – 8:14 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.79 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 72 | 73 | 78 | 87 | 93 | 96 | 101 | 98 | 97 | 95 | 80 | 77 |
| Low °F | -3 | -3 | -6 | 22 | 27 | 39 | 50 | 49 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
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.
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- 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 Manassas Gap, closest first.
Mountain Pass
Scenic Viewpoint
CaveScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
State ParkScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Elizabeth Furnace Group Camp21 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Elizabeth Furnace22 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Mathews Arm Campground25 km (16 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Manassas Gap?
What time is golden hour at Manassas Gap?
Where does the sun rise and set at Manassas Gap?
Can you see the Milky Way from Manassas Gap?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Manassas Gap?
How far is Manassas Gap from Apple Mountain Lake?
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.