Obed Wild & Scenic River is a Wild & Scenic River in Tennessee. 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 Obed
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Obed. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Ghost Towns (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Obed 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 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:49 AM | 8:28 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:48 PM | 244° | 9h 58m |
| February | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:20 PM | 255° | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:50 AM | 8:24 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:46 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:12 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 6:33 AM | 7:10 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:38 PM | 294° | 14h 05m |
| June | 6:22 AM | 7:00 AM | 8:20 PM | 8:58 PM | 300° | 14h 36m |
| July | 6:33 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:56 PM | 298° | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:57 AM | 7:33 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:30 PM | 288° | 13h 33m |
| September | 7:22 AM | 7:56 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:47 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:46 AM | 8:20 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:04 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:32 PM | 248° | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:43 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:26 PM | 242° | 9h 43m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.1056, -84.5979); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Obed, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:26 AM – 5:56 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 4:31 AM – 6:21 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:38 AM – 4:48 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:47 PM – 4:27 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:41 PM – 3:01 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 10:04 PM – 1:04 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 9:14 PM – 11:04 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 8:29 PM – 8:59 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| 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
The weather along the Cumberland Plateau can be best described as unpredictable. Each season brings its own weather patterns. Summers are generally hot and humid, with high temperatures sometimes eclipsing 90 degrees. The low temperatures in winter often dip below freezing. Spring sees the most amount of precipitation, but rainfall can occur in various amounts throughout the year.
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
The Obed Wild & Scenic River Visitor Center is located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg, Tennessee. Please use the link for more information.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
Nearby parks
KY/TN
KY/TN
KY
NC/TN
GA/TN
TN