Cherokee National Forest — a national forest in Cocke County, Tennessee — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Newport, about 15.8 km (9.8 mi) away (Cherokee National Forest lies SE of town).
The Cherokee National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. states of Tennessee and North Carolina that was created on June 14, 1920. The forest is maintained and managed by the United States Forest Service. It encompasses an estimated area of 655,598 acres (2,653.11 km2).From the Wikipedia article “Cherokee National Forest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cherokee National Forest 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 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:37 AM | 90° E | 7:44 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:17 AM | 60° ENE | 8:53 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:21 AM | 89° E | 7:31 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:39 AM | 119° ESE | 5:23 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 43m |
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
Forests suit soft light — overcast days reduce contrast under the canopy, and morning fog adds depth.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:15 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:21 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:10 PM | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:40 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:18 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:06 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:00 PM | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:21 PM | 14h 35m |
| July | 5:59 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 22m |
| August | 6:25 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:51 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:14 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:24 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:42 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 17m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:49 PM | 9h 44m |
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 Cherokee National Forest, 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:20 AM – 5:50 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:25 AM – 6:15 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:25 AM – 5:25 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:31 AM – 4:41 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:39 PM – 4:19 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:34 PM – 2:54 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 12:57 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:07 PM – 10:57 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:23 PM – 8:53 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 ≈ 21.57 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). 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 | 71 | 81 | 80 | 87 | 101 | 99 | 97 | 95 | 92 | 81 | 72 |
| Low °F | -3 | -1 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 36 | 23 | 12 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 5.3 |
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 national forest
- Forest roads can close in winter or after storms; download offline maps.
- Fire restrictions may limit campfires and stoves in summer.
- Look for fire lookouts and high roads for views over the canopy.
- Fall color peaks vary by elevation; follow it downhill over several weeks.
- Dispersed camping is often allowed, which makes sunrise and night shoots easier — check local rules.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Autumn color and spring flowers draw photographers; winter brings snow-covered forests in the North and West.
Suggested gear: Polarizer, Tripod, Offline maps, Insect repellent. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Recreational drones are generally allowed in national forests outside designated wilderness, subject to FAA rules and temporary flight restrictions — wildfire TFRs are common in summer.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Cherokee National Forest, closest first.
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Fire Lookout
Waterfall
Mountain Pass
Fire Lookout
Mountain Peak
Natural ArchNatural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Round Mountain Campground10.4 km (6.5 mi) · reservable
- Big Creek Horse Camp13.1 km (8.1 mi) · reservable
- Big Creek Group Camp13.3 km (8.3 mi) · reservable
- Big Creek Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)13.6 km (8.5 mi) · reservable
- Harmon Den Campground14.3 km (8.9 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cherokee National Forest?
What time is golden hour at Cherokee National Forest?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cherokee National Forest?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cherokee National Forest?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cherokee National Forest?
How far is Cherokee National Forest from Newport?
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.