Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0 — a natural arch in Williamson County, Tennessee — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Natchez Trace Parkway, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Fairview, about 11.8 km (7.3 mi) away (Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0 lies E of town).
From the National Park Service
Soaring 155 feet above Tennessee Highway 96, the bridge provides a spectacular view for 1848 feet. Winner of design and construction awards, the Double Arch Bridge is the first segmented constructed arch bridge in the USA. It is the second longest bridge on the Parkway.
The bridge took two and a half years to build. It was open to traffic in June, 1994. A pullout just north of the bridge provides an excellent view of the bridge and hollow.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0 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 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:52 AM | 90° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:32 AM | 60° ENE | 8:09 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:37 AM | 89° E | 6:46 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:56 AM | 119° ESE | 4:38 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 43m |
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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:10 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 6:34 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:21 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:49 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:48 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:15 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:16 PM | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:01 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 35m |
| July | 5:14 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:35 PM | 14h 22m |
| August | 5:40 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:07 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:06 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:05 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:23 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:29 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:39 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 5:58 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:04 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:09 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:32 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:36 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 44m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0, 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 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:36 AM – 5:06 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:41 AM – 5:31 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:42 AM – 4:42 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 11:48 PM – 3:58 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:57 PM – 3:37 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:51 PM – 2:11 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:14 PM – 12:14 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:24 PM – 10:14 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:39 PM – 8:09 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.22 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (68%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 70 | 74 | 81 | 82 | 92 | 108 | 106 | 105 | 101 | 99 | 87 | 73 |
| Low °F | 3 | -2 | 8 | 22 | 34 | 50 | 54 | 50 | 40 | 27 | 14 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.3 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 5.4 |
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
- Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.
- 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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0?
What time is golden hour at Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0?
Where does the sun rise and set at Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0?
Can you see the Milky Way from Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0?
How far is Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0 from Fairview?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.