Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Cumberland Gap
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Cumberland Gap. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Mountain Passes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
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.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:46 AM | 8:25 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:42 PM | 244° | 9h 56m |
| February | 7:24 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:15 PM | 255° | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:46 AM | 8:21 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:42 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 7:01 AM | 7:36 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:09 PM | 283° | 13h 07m |
| May | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:35 PM | 295° | 14h 07m |
| June | 6:16 AM | 6:55 AM | 8:17 PM | 8:55 PM | 300° | 14h 39m |
| July | 6:28 AM | 7:06 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:54 PM | 298° | 14h 26m |
| August | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:27 PM | 288° | 13h 34m |
| September | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:44 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:42 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:59 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 7:13 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:27 PM | 248° | 10h 14m |
| December | 7:40 AM | 8:20 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:21 PM | 241° | 9h 40m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.6250, -83.6114); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:22 AM – 5:52 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 4:38 AM – 6:18 AM | 1.7 | 21° |
| April | 2:29 AM – 5:19 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 12:36 AM – 4:36 AM | 4.0 | 25° |
| June | 10:45 PM – 4:15 AM | 5.5 | 25° |
| July | 10:40 PM – 3:00 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 10:02 PM – 12:52 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 9:10 PM – 10:50 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 8:25 PM – 8:55 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers at Cumberland Gap are hot and humid, with temperatures commonly in the mid to upper 90s. Winters are generally mild with rain and some periods of snow January through March. Temperatures usually range in the 30s and 40s. Weather can sometimes be unpredictable, especially at higher elevations.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. 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.
Getting there
By Plane The closest major airport is located in Knoxville, Tennessee approximately 85 miles away. Flights can also be made into Lexington, Kentucky approximately 130 miles away. By Car The park entrance is located on Highway 25E just south of Middlesboro Kentucky.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Caving
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
TN
KY/TN
TN
KY
NC/TN
NC/VA