Russell Cave National Monument is a National Monument in Alabama. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Russell Cave
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Russell Cave. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (2)
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Russell Cave 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:51 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:55 PM | 245° | 10h 04m |
| February | 6:30 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:26 PM | 255° | 10h 56m |
| March | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:51 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:12 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:16 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:40 PM | 294° | 14h 00m |
| June | 5:30 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:59 PM | 300° | 14h 30m |
| July | 5:41 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:58 PM | 297° | 14h 17m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:39 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:33 PM | 288° | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:52 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:10 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:19 AM | 6:55 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:39 PM | 248° | 10h 21m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:34 PM | 242° | 9h 49m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.9740, -85.8156); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Russell Cave, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | 4:21 AM – 5:01 AM | 0.7 | 15° |
| March | 3:35 AM – 5:25 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:35 AM – 4:35 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 11:39 PM – 3:59 AM | 4.3 | 26° |
| June | 9:46 PM – 3:36 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 9:41 PM – 2:11 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:06 PM – 12:16 AM | 3.2 | 26° |
| September | 8:17 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 7:34 PM – 8:14 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| 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 in Bridgeport, Alabama is mild. The average temperature in the winter is in the low 50's. The average summer temperature is in the high 80's. We receive about 50 inches of rain each year. Snowfall varies, but only lasts a few days per event.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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
Russell Cave National Monument is located at 3729 County Road 98 in Bridgeport, Alabama. It is situated in the northeast corner of Alabama, just south of the Tennessee state line.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
GA/TN
AL
TN
AL
GA
TN