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37.7796° N83.6733° W237 mBortle 3New York

Henson Cave Arch Photography Guide

Natural Arch in Powell County, Kentucky · 237 m (778 ft)

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–301°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

Located in Powell County, Kentucky, Henson Cave Arch is a natural arch at about 237 m (778 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 17.8 km (11.1 mi) ESE of Stanton.

Elevation
237 m
778 ft
Nearest town
Stanton
17.8 km (11.1 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
50% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.3 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:23 PM
sunset 6:59 PM

Light at Henson Cave Arch

Live
Sunrise
7:48 AM
Sunset
6:52 PM
Golden hour AM
7:32 AM – 8:24 AM
Golden hour PM
6:16 PM – 7:08 PM
Blue hour AM
7:22 AM – 7:32 AM
Blue hour PM
7:08 PM – 7:19 PM
Full darkness
8:19 PM – 6:22 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:59 PM / 1:56 AM
Day length
11h 03m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Henson Cave Arch the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:39 AM90° E7:47 PM271° W52°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:14 AM59° ENE9:01 PM301° WNW76°14h 47m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:23 AM89° E7:33 PM271° W53°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:47 AM120° ESE5:20 PM241° WSW29°9h 33m

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

Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:21 AM7:50 AM8:29 AM5:00 PM5:40 PM6:08 PM9h 50m
February6:59 AM7:25 AM8:02 AM5:38 PM6:14 PM6:41 PM10h 49m
March7:21 AM7:47 AM8:21 AM7:07 PM7:42 PM8:08 PM11h 55m
April6:33 AM7:00 AM7:35 AM7:35 PM8:10 PM8:37 PM13h 10m
May5:56 AM6:26 AM7:03 AM8:01 PM8:38 PM9:07 PM14h 12m
June5:42 AM6:13 AM6:52 AM8:20 PM8:59 PM9:30 PM14h 46m
July5:55 AM6:25 AM7:04 AM8:19 PM8:57 PM9:28 PM14h 32m
August6:23 AM6:51 AM7:27 AM7:53 PM8:29 PM8:57 PM13h 38m
September6:51 AM7:17 AM7:52 AM7:10 PM7:44 PM8:11 PM12h 27m
October7:17 AM7:44 AM8:19 AM6:23 PM6:59 PM7:25 PM11h 15m
November6:48 AM7:16 AM7:54 AM4:46 PM5:25 PM5:53 PM10h 09m
December7:14 AM7:44 AM8:25 AM4:37 PM5:18 PM5:47 PM9h 34m

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 Henson Cave Arch, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
February5:33 AM – 5:53 AM0.313°SE → SE
March4:40 AM – 6:10 AM1.520°SE → SSE
April2:44 AM – 5:24 AM2.723°SE → S
May12:43 AM – 4:33 AM3.823°SE → S
June10:54 PM – 4:14 AM5.323°SE → SSW
July10:48 PM – 2:48 AM4.023°SSE → SW
August10:07 PM – 12:47 AM2.723°S → SW
September9:14 PM – 10:44 PM1.520°SSW → SW
October8:26 PM – 8:46 PM0.313°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.61 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (72%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F7173838394106105102100978374
Low °F-2-3-22229435248392666
Precip. (in)3.54.33.94.74.74.55.13.63.63.53.54.3

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 natural arch

  • Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
  • At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
  • Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
  • Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.

Suggested gear: Ultra-wide lens, Tripod, Headlamp, Plenty of water. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Henson Cave Arch, closest first.

Natural Arch
Whittleton Arch0.9 km away · Wolfe County
Natural Arch
Owls Window1.0 km away · Powell County
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point1.1 km away · Powell County · 405 m
Natural Arch
Natural Bridge1.2 km away · Powell County
Natural Bridge State Resort ParkState Park
Natural Bridge State Resort Park1.8 km away · Powell County
Natural Arch
Hidden Arch2.8 km away · Powell County
Natural Arch
Slade Twin Arches3.4 km away · Powell County
Natural Arch
Whites Branch Arch4.0 km away · Powell County
Natural Arch
Sand Gap Arch4.2 km away · Powell County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Henson Cave Arch?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
What time is golden hour at Henson Cave Arch?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:23 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:59 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:19 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Henson Cave Arch?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 59° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 301° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Henson Cave Arch?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Henson Cave Arch?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Henson Cave Arch from Stanton?
About 17.8 km (11.1 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.