Kincaid Lake State Park is a state park in Pendleton County, Kentucky. It sits roughly 6.5 km (4.0 mi) NE of Falmouth.
Kincaid Lake State Park is a park located near Falmouth, Kentucky in Pendleton County. The park encompasses 850 acres (340 ha) surrounding Kincaid Lake. In 1960 the park had changed its name to Falmouth Lake State Park, but the residents felt the name should go back to Kincaid for historical reasons. So in 1969 the name was finally changed back to Kincaid Lake State Park. In 1961 the dam to impound Kincaid Creek was constructed, and in 1963 the park was open to the public and whoever wanted to visit. From 1960 through 1967, progress became Kincaid, and they added a beach, bathhouse, boat docks, picnic areas, camp sites, and hiking trails. The park has 850 acres, with a gift shop and 84 campsites. There is a nine-hole golf course as well as a pool. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, miniature golf, hiking, and swimming.From the Wikipedia article “Kincaid Lake State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Kincaid Lake State Park 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:42 AM | 90° E | 7:49 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 59° ENE | 9:06 PM | 302° WNW | 75° | 14h 53m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:26 AM | 89° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:52 AM | 120° ESE | 5:20 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 27m |
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 | 7:25 AM | 7:54 AM | 8:35 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:09 PM | 9h 45m |
| February | 7:02 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:42 PM | 10h 46m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 7:49 AM | 8:25 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:11 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:43 PM | 9:13 PM | 14h 17m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:04 PM | 9:36 PM | 14h 52m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:33 PM | 14h 37m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:02 PM | 13h 41m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:14 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:23 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:27 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 05m |
| December | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 8:31 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 29m |
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 Kincaid Lake State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:44 AM – 5:54 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:53 AM – 6:13 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:49 AM – 5:19 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:50 AM – 4:30 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 11:02 PM – 4:12 AM | 5.2 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:55 PM – 2:45 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:12 PM – 12:42 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 9:17 PM – 10:37 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:28 PM – 8:48 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.13 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 47% average cloud cover) and January 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 69 | 73 | 81 | 85 | 94 | 103 | 107 | 103 | 101 | 96 | 82 | 71 |
| Low °F | -3 | -8 | 8 | 22 | 27 | 43 | 51 | 48 | 38 | 24 | 11 | -4 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.8 |
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
- 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.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Kincaid Lake State Park, closest first.
Covered Bridge
Scenic Viewpoint
Covered Bridge
State Park
Covered Bridge
Covered BridgeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Kincaid Lake State Park?
What time is golden hour at Kincaid Lake State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Kincaid Lake State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Kincaid Lake State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Kincaid Lake State Park?
How far is Kincaid Lake State Park from Falmouth?
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.