Wilson Gap is a mountain pass in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It sits roughly 5.0 km (3.1 mi) S of Shannondale.
Wilson Gap, originally known as Gregory's Gap, is a wind gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain, located on the border of Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia. The Appalachian Trail crosses the gap. The 1,444 feet (440 m) gap once served as a thoroughfare between Round Hill, the former terminus of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad in western Loudoun, and the resort communities of Shannondale and Mountain Mission in Jefferson County via the Wilson Gap Road. The resorts fell victim to the Great Depression and the upper reaches of Wilson Gap Road became impassable to vehicular traffic by the outbreak of World War II. Though no longer maintained as a public road, the old road bed can still be found by the discerning hiker.From the Wikipedia article “Wilson Gap”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Wilson 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 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:16 AM | 90° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:46 AM | 59° ENE | 8:42 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 56m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:10 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:28 AM | 120° ESE | 4:52 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 25m |
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 | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:13 PM | 5:42 PM | 9h 43m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:45 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:29 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 19m |
| June | 5:13 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:27 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 40m |
| August | 5:57 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:26 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:48 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:54 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:34 PM | 7:01 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:27 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:20 PM | 9h 26m |
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 Wilson 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 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:18 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:27 AM – 5:47 AM | 1.3 | 18° | 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 | 10:40 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 2:12 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:48 PM – 12:18 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:12 PM | 1.3 | 18° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:13 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: 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 ≈ 20.31 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 December as the cloudiest (66%). 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 | 68 | 76 | 78 | 89 | 91 | 98 | 103 | 100 | 98 | 95 | 78 | 72 |
| Low °F | -3 | -10 | -5 | 22 | 29 | 42 | 52 | 52 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Wilson Gap, closest first.
Mountain PassMountain PassMountain Pass
Mountain Peak
Cave
Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass
Scenic ViewpointMountain PassCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Huckleberry Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite19.3 km (12.0 mi)
- Turtle Run Hiker-Biker Campsite25 km (16 mi)
- Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite26 km (16 mi)
- Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Overnight (Hbo) Campsite26 km (16 mi)
- Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite27 km (17 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wilson Gap?
What time is golden hour at Wilson Gap?
Where does the sun rise and set at Wilson Gap?
Can you see the Milky Way from Wilson Gap?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Wilson Gap?
How far is Wilson Gap from Shannondale?
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.