Photo by Forrest L. Smith, III. Climbers ascending Stone Mountain, October 2006.
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36.3986° N81.0622° WBortle 3New York

Stone Mountain State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Wilkes County, North Carolina

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Original author was Filberthockey at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source

Stone Mountain State Park — a state park in Wilkes County, North Carolina — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Thurmond, about 12.5 km (7.8 mi) away (Stone Mountain State Park lies WNW of town).

Stone Mountain State Park is a 14,353-acre (5,808 ha) North Carolina state park in Alleghany County and Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States.From the Wikipedia article “Stone Mountain State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Thurmond
12.5 km (7.8 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
October
52% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:15 PM
sunset 6:49 PM

Light at Stone Mountain State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:36 AM
Sunset
6:43 PM
Golden hour AM
7:20 AM – 8:12 AM
Golden hour PM
6:08 PM – 6:59 PM
Blue hour AM
7:10 AM – 7:20 AM
Blue hour PM
6:59 PM – 7:09 PM
Full darkness
8:09 PM – 6:11 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:46 PM / 1:47 AM
Day length
11h 07m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
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 Stone Mountain State Park 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 30° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:29 AM90° E7:36 PM271° W53°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:07 AM60° ENE8:46 PM300° WNW77°14h 39m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:13 AM89° E7:23 PM271° W54°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:33 AM119° ESE5:13 PM241° WSW30°9h 40m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:08 AM7:36 AM8:15 AM4:54 PM5:33 PM6:01 PM9h 57m
February6:47 AM7:13 AM7:49 AM5:30 PM6:06 PM6:32 PM10h 52m
March7:10 AM7:36 AM8:10 AM6:58 PM7:32 PM7:58 PM11h 56m
April6:25 AM6:51 AM7:26 AM7:24 PM7:58 PM8:25 PM13h 07m
May5:50 AM6:19 AM6:55 AM7:48 PM8:24 PM8:53 PM14h 06m
June5:36 AM6:07 AM6:45 AM8:06 PM8:44 PM9:15 PM14h 38m
July5:49 AM6:19 AM6:56 AM8:06 PM8:43 PM9:13 PM14h 24m
August6:15 AM6:43 AM7:18 AM7:41 PM8:16 PM8:44 PM13h 34m
September6:42 AM7:07 AM7:41 AM6:59 PM7:33 PM7:59 PM12h 26m
October7:06 AM7:32 AM8:07 AM6:15 PM6:49 PM7:15 PM11h 18m
November6:35 AM7:02 AM7:40 AM4:40 PM5:17 PM5:45 PM10h 15m
December7:01 AM7:29 AM8:09 AM4:31 PM5:11 PM5:40 PM9h 42m

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 Stone Mountain State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:12 AM – 5:42 AM0.514°SE → SE
March4:28 AM – 6:08 AM1.721°SE → SSE
April2:19 AM – 5:09 AM2.824°SE → S
May12:26 AM – 4:26 AM4.025°SE → SSW
June10:35 PM – 4:05 AM5.525°SE → SW
July10:30 PM – 2:50 AM4.325°SSE → SW
August9:52 PM – 12:42 AM2.824°S → SW
September9:00 PM – 10:40 PM1.721°SSW → SW
October8:15 PM – 8:45 PM0.514°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 ≈ 21.59 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (66%). 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 °F707179829096969994927872
Low °F-4-5021303950463423100
Precip. (in)3.03.43.54.34.54.44.84.34.43.73.53.7

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 Stone Mountain State Park, closest first.

Stone MountainMountain Peak
Stone Mountain1.8 km away · Alleghany County · 700 m
Waterfall
Little Falls3.2 km away · Wilkes County · 537 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Stone Mountain Overlook3.9 km away · Alleghany County · 949 m
Bullhead Mountain OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Bullhead Mountain Overlook5.1 km away · Alleghany County · 970 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Devils Garden Overlook5.5 km away · Wilkes County · 1,041 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Little Glade Pond Overlook5.6 km away · Alleghany County · 834 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Mahogany Rock Overlook5.6 km away · Alleghany County · 1,042 m
Air Bellows OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Air Bellows Overlook6.5 km away · Alleghany County · 1,141 m
Mountain Pass
Air Bellows Gap6.7 km away · Alleghany County · 1,136 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Stone Mountain State Park?
October 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 wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Stone Mountain State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:15 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:49 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:07 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Stone Mountain State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Stone Mountain State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Stone Mountain State Park?
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 Stone Mountain State Park from Thurmond?
About 12.5 km (7.8 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.