Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a state park in Powell County, Kentucky. It sits roughly 16.3 km (10.1 mi) ESE of Stanton.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a public recreation area located along the Middle Fork of the Red River, two miles south of the unincorporated community of Slade, in Powell and Wolfe counties, Kentucky, United States. The state park lies adjacent to the Red River Gorge geologic area and is surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest. Its namesake natural bridge is the centerpiece of the park. The natural sandstone arch spans 78 feet (24 m) and is 65 feet (20 m) high. The natural process of weathering formed the arch over millions of years. Some of the most famous sites in the park are the arch itself, "Lover's Leap", and "Fat Man's Squeeze".From the Wikipedia article “Natural Bridge State Resort Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Natural Bridge State Resort 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 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:14 AM | 59° ENE | 9:01 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:23 AM | 89° E | 7:33 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:47 AM | 120° ESE | 5:20 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 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
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 | 7:21 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:29 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:09 PM | 9h 50m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:41 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:22 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:08 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:38 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:42 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:20 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:30 PM | 14h 46m |
| July | 5:55 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:57 PM | 9:28 PM | 14h 32m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:51 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:11 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:17 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:19 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:25 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:48 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 09m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:25 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 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 Natural Bridge State Resort Park, 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:33 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:40 AM – 6:10 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:44 AM – 5:24 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:43 AM – 4:33 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:54 PM – 4:14 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:48 PM – 2:48 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:07 PM – 12:47 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:14 PM – 10:44 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:26 PM – 8:46 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| 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: 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 71 | 73 | 83 | 83 | 94 | 106 | 105 | 102 | 100 | 97 | 83 | 74 |
| Low °F | -2 | -3 | -2 | 22 | 29 | 43 | 52 | 48 | 39 | 26 | 6 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.5 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.3 |
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 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.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- 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 Natural Bridge State Resort Park, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Natural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Natural Bridge State Resort Park?
What time is golden hour at Natural Bridge State Resort Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Natural Bridge State Resort Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Natural Bridge State Resort Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Natural Bridge State Resort Park?
How far is Natural Bridge State Resort Park from Stanton?
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.