Cheaha State Park — a state park in Clay County, Alabama — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Munford, about 14.5 km (9.0 mi) away (Cheaha State Park lies ESE of town).
Cheaha State Park is a public recreation area located in Clay and Cleburne counties in Alabama, US. The park's 2,799 acres (1,133 ha) include Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state. The park adjoins Talladega National Forest and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It is Alabama's oldest continuously operating state park. Facilities include lodgings, a restaurant, campsites, and hiking trails.From the Wikipedia article “Cheaha State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cheaha State Park 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 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:48 AM | 90° E | 6:55 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:35 AM | 61° ENE | 7:57 PM | 299° WNW | 80° | 14h 22m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:32 AM | 89° E | 6:42 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:44 AM | 118° ESE | 4:40 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 56m |
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
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:21 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:22 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:25 PM | 10h 11m |
| February | 6:03 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:54 PM | 11h 00m |
| March | 6:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:51 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:48 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:40 PM | 13h 01m |
| May | 5:16 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 53m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:24 PM | 14h 22m |
| July | 5:17 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:23 PM | 14h 10m |
| August | 5:40 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:40 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:57 PM | 13h 24m |
| September | 6:03 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:51 PM | 7:16 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:23 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:36 PM | 11h 23m |
| November | 5:49 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:52 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:08 PM | 10h 26m |
| December | 6:13 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:05 PM | 9h 57m |
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 Cheaha State Park, 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 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:22 AM – 5:02 AM | 0.7 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:24 AM – 5:24 AM | 2.0 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:31 AM – 4:41 AM | 3.2 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:33 PM – 4:03 AM | 4.5 | 28° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:38 PM – 3:48 AM | 6.2 | 28° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:34 PM – 2:24 AM | 4.8 | 28° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:01 PM – 12:21 AM | 3.3 | 28° | S → SW |
| September | 8:15 PM – 10:15 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:33 PM – 8:13 PM | 0.7 | 17° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 21.28 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (61%). 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 | 73 | 79 | 86 | 90 | 97 | 107 | 105 | 106 | 103 | 101 | 87 | 77 |
| Low °F | 6 | 15 | 21 | 25 | 38 | 52 | 55 | 53 | 41 | 29 | 18 | 15 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.4 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
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 state park
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Cheaha State Park, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Mountain PeakScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Wilderness Area
Waterfall
Covered BridgeWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cheaha State Park?
What time is golden hour at Cheaha State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cheaha State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cheaha State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cheaha State Park?
How far is Cheaha State Park from Munford?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.