Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is a National Military Park in Alabama. 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 Horseshoe Bend
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Horseshoe Bend. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Covered Bridges (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Horseshoe Bend the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:23 PM | 4:59 PM | 245° | 10h 13m |
| February | 6:27 AM | 7:01 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:29 PM | 256° | 11h 01m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:51 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:14 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:13 PM | 282° | 13h 00m |
| May | 5:45 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:36 PM | 293° | 13h 51m |
| June | 5:35 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:54 PM | 299° | 14h 19m |
| July | 5:46 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:53 PM | 297° | 14h 07m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:30 PM | 287° | 13h 23m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:51 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:11 PM | 260° | 11h 23m |
| November | 6:14 AM | 6:50 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:43 PM | 248° | 10h 28m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:17 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:39 PM | 243° | 9h 59m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.9767, -85.7341); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Horseshoe Bend, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:12 AM – 5:02 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 3:23 AM – 5:23 AM | 2.0 | 24° |
| April | 1:20 AM – 4:40 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:21 PM – 4:01 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 9:36 PM – 3:46 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 9:32 PM – 2:22 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 9:00 PM – 12:20 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 8:14 PM – 10:14 PM | 2.0 | 25° |
| October | 7:33 PM – 8:23 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers can be extremely hot and humid and winters can be damp, wet, and cold, with occasional hard freezes. During the summer season visitors should dress in light, comfortable clothing, wear comfortable shoes and use sunscreen and insect repellant. Stay hydrated to avoid risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. A bottle refill station is available in the visitor center. In the spring and fall visitors should have a light jacket available as temperatures can drop suddenly.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (58%). 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
Located in northeastern Tallapoosa County, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is accessible from US Highway 280, as well as AL Highways 22 and 49. The Park is located 5 miles south of the town of Newsite, AL and 12 miles north of the city of Dadeville, AL.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
Nearby parks
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