Located in Carter County, Tennessee, Roan Mountain State Park is a state park. It sits roughly 4.1 km (2.5 mi) SW of Roan Mountain.
Roan Mountain State Park is a Tennessee state park in Carter County, in Northeast Tennessee. It is close to the Tennessee-North Carolina border and near the community of Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Situated in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, the park preserves 2,006 acres (8.12 km2) of mostly hardwood forest. The park is in close proximity to 6,285-foot (1,916 m) Roan Mountain and the Appalachian Trail, both of which are owned and managed by the US Forest Service. On exceptionally clear days, the Charlotte skyline can be photographed from the peak. Most of the town of Roan Mountain is privately owned by the residents, and much of the land in Roan Mountain has been family owned for many generations, being passed down generation after generation through the years.From the Wikipedia article “Roan Mountain State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Roan 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:33 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:12 AM | 60° ENE | 8:50 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 119° ESE | 5:18 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 42m |
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 | 7:11 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:05 PM | 9h 58m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:36 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:14 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:29 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:55 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 05m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:03 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 43m |
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 Roan Mountain State Park, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:16 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:31 AM – 6:11 AM | 1.7 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 5:23 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:29 AM – 4:39 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:38 PM – 4:18 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:33 PM – 2:53 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:55 PM – 12:45 AM | 2.8 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:04 PM – 10:44 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:19 PM – 8:49 PM | 0.5 | 15° | 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 ≈ 21.47 mag/arcsec².
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 (70%). 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 | 74 | 80 | 83 | 90 | 102 | 101 | 99 | 97 | 95 | 81 | 74 |
| Low °F | -2 | -3 | 7 | 20 | 33 | 41 | 51 | 49 | 37 | 23 | 15 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 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.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- 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 Roan Mountain State Park, closest first.
Mountain Pass
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Dennis Cove Campground9.9 km (6.1 mi) · reservable
- Cardens Bluff Campground15.7 km (9.8 mi) · reservable
- Watauga Point Recreation Area16.9 km (10.5 mi) · reservable
- The Laurels Picnic Area Pavilions17.5 km (10.9 mi) · reservable
- Rock Creek Recreation Area (Cherokee National Forest, Tn)22 km (14 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Roan Mountain State Park?
What time is golden hour at Roan Mountain State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Roan Mountain State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Roan Mountain State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Roan Mountain State Park?
How far is Roan Mountain State Park from Roan Mountain?
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.