Epes Tower — a scenic viewpoint in Sumter County, Alabama at about 99 m (325 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 8.0 km (5.0 mi) NE of Livingston.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Epes Tower 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 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:57 AM | 90° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:46 AM | 61° ENE | 8:04 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 18m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:41 AM | 89° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:51 AM | 118° ESE | 4:51 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 00m |
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
Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:29 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:10 PM | 5:36 PM | 10h 14m |
| February | 6:11 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:10 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:04 PM | 11h 02m |
| March | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:25 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:58 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:57 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:48 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 5:28 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:12 PM | 13h 50m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 17m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:30 PM | 14h 06m |
| August | 5:51 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:25 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:32 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:46 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 5:57 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:59 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:19 PM | 10h 30m |
| December | 6:21 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:16 PM | 10h 01m |
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 Epes Tower, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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 | 4:21 AM – 5:11 AM | 0.8 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:28 AM – 4:48 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:28 PM – 4:18 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:43 PM – 4:03 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:39 PM – 2:29 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:07 PM – 12:27 AM | 3.3 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 8:23 PM – 10:33 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:42 PM – 8:32 PM | 0.8 | 18° | 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 ≈ 21.65 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 41% 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 | 76 | 81 | 85 | 90 | 101 | 107 | 105 | 107 | 104 | 103 | 90 | 80 |
| Low °F | 13 | 20 | 19 | 32 | 41 | 54 | 59 | 54 | 43 | 31 | 18 | 19 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.7 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 5.4 |
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 scenic viewpoint
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, Graduated ND filter, Headlamp. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Epes Tower, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Forkland22 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Belmont Park23 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Spillway Falls24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Foscue Creek26 km (16 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Epes Tower?
What time is golden hour at Epes Tower?
Where does the sun rise and set at Epes Tower?
Can you see the Milky Way from Epes Tower?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Epes Tower?
How far is Epes Tower from Livingston?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.