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36.8406° N84.3422° W292 mBortle 2New York

Lovers Leap Overlook Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Whitley County, Kentucky · 292 m (958 ft)

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–301°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Lovers Leap Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Whitley County, Kentucky at about 292 m (958 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 17.3 km (10.7 mi) NE of Whitley City.

Elevation
292 m
958 ft
Nearest town
Whitley City
17.3 km (10.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
September
49% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:27 PM
sunset 7:02 PM

Light at Lovers Leap Overlook

Live
Sunrise
7:50 AM
Sunset
6:56 PM
Golden hour AM
7:34 AM – 8:25 AM
Golden hour PM
6:20 PM – 7:12 PM
Blue hour AM
7:24 AM – 7:34 AM
Blue hour PM
7:12 PM – 7:22 PM
Full darkness
8:22 PM – 6:24 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
4:00 PM / 2:00 AM
Day length
11h 06m
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 Lovers Leap Overlook 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 301° (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)7:42 AM90° E7:49 PM271° W53°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:19 AM60° ENE9:01 PM301° WNW77°14h 41m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:26 AM89° E7:36 PM271° W53°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:47 AM119° ESE5:25 PM241° WSW30°9h 38m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:22 AM7:50 AM8:29 AM5:06 PM5:45 PM6:13 PM9h 55m
February7:00 AM7:27 AM8:03 AM5:42 PM6:18 PM6:45 PM10h 51m
March7:23 AM7:49 AM8:24 AM7:11 PM7:45 PM8:11 PM11h 56m
April6:37 AM7:04 AM7:39 AM7:37 PM8:12 PM8:39 PM13h 08m
May6:02 AM6:31 AM7:07 AM8:02 PM8:39 PM9:07 PM14h 08m
June5:48 AM6:19 AM6:57 AM8:20 PM8:59 PM9:30 PM14h 40m
July6:01 AM6:31 AM7:08 AM8:20 PM8:57 PM9:27 PM14h 27m
August6:28 AM6:55 AM7:31 AM7:55 PM8:30 PM8:58 PM13h 35m
September6:54 AM7:20 AM7:55 AM7:13 PM7:47 PM8:13 PM12h 26m
October7:19 AM7:45 AM8:20 AM6:27 PM7:02 PM7:28 PM11h 17m
November6:49 AM7:16 AM7:54 AM4:51 PM5:29 PM5:57 PM10h 13m
December7:15 AM7:44 AM8:24 AM4:43 PM5:23 PM5:52 PM9h 39m

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 Lovers Leap Overlook, 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 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:25 AM – 5:55 AM0.514°SE → SE
March4:41 AM – 6:21 AM1.721°SE → SSE
April2:33 AM – 5:23 AM2.824°SE → S
May12:40 AM – 4:40 AM4.024°SE → SSW
June10:50 PM – 4:20 AM5.524°SE → SW
July10:44 PM – 2:54 AM4.224°SSE → SW
August10:05 PM – 12:55 AM2.824°S → SW
September9:14 PM – 10:54 PM1.721°SSW → SW
October8:28 PM – 8:58 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.69 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 49% 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F697282839110310310199968372
Low °F-1-1321304351493724109
Precip. (in)4.15.34.45.04.34.55.73.73.83.24.14.9

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.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

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 Lovers Leap Overlook, closest first.

Eagle FallsWaterfall
Eagle Falls0.3 km away · McCreary County · 252 m
Cumberland FallsWaterfall
Cumberland Falls0.4 km away · McCreary County · 248 m
Cumberland Falls State Resort ParkState Park
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park0.8 km away · McCreary County
Scenic Viewpoint
Dry Bridge Overlook3.0 km away · Whitley County · 370 m
Waterfall
Dog Slaughter Falls3.4 km away · Whitley County · 262 m
Waterfall
Amos Falls7.6 km away · Whitley County · 329 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Three Forks of Beaver Overlook11 km away · McCreary County · 307 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Dutch Branch Overlook13 km away · Laurel County · 323 m
Natural Arch
Natural Arch15 km away · McCreary County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Lovers Leap Overlook?
September 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. Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
What time is golden hour at Lovers Leap Overlook?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:27 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:02 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:20 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Lovers Leap Overlook?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 301° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Lovers Leap Overlook?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lovers Leap Overlook?
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 Lovers Leap Overlook from Whitley City?
About 17.3 km (10.7 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.