Located in Lee County, Mississippi, Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9 is a scenic viewpoint. It sits roughly 10.5 km (6.5 mi) WSW of Verona.
From the National Park Service
This overlook features a scenic view of a remnant of the Black Belt Prairie which was part of the vast tall grass Blackland Prairie Region. The 350,000-acre fertile Black Belt Prairie has been interrupted by human development leaving most of the remaining natural sections at only 10-20 acres. The Natchez Trace Parkway is actively protecting and restoring portions of prairie, returning it to a natural grassland that sustains native flowering plants and wildlife.
The calcareous soil underlying the prairie was formed when the ocean receded after eons of depositing the remains of calcium rich shells. The resulting rich soil supported grasses like bluestems, switchgrass, Indian grass, and others. The prairie contained more than grasses. A diverse array of wildflowers, forbs, and legumes, oak forests, short leaf pines, glades and wetlands were common in certain areas depending upon the terrain.
Long ago bison could be found on this prairie along with other common wildlife that still exist here in reduced numbers. Over time, the soil that once supported the lush prairie flora eventually supported the needs of planters who moved into the area. In an effort to sustain their families, the prairie was turned into farmland.
Take a moment, stop and listen. Can you hear the call of the common prairie bird, the bob-white quail? Use your imagination to transport yourself back in time and listen for the bellow of a bull bison.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 90° E | 7:07 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:45 AM | 61° ENE | 8:11 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 26m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:44 AM | 89° E | 6:54 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:58 AM | 118° ESE | 4:50 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 52m |
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 | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:36 PM | 10h 08m |
| February | 6:16 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 58m |
| March | 6:42 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:59 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:53 PM | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:27 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:18 PM | 13h 56m |
| June | 5:15 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:38 PM | 14h 25m |
| July | 5:27 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 13m |
| August | 5:51 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:14 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:29 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:48 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:02 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:19 PM | 10h 24m |
| December | 6:27 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:16 PM | 9h 53m |
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 Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° 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 | 4:33 AM – 5:13 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:45 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.2 | 27° | SE → S |
| May | 11:48 PM – 4:08 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:54 PM – 3:54 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:50 PM – 2:30 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:15 PM – 12:25 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:28 PM – 10:28 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:45 PM – 8:25 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.39 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 73 | 75 | 83 | 87 | 97 | 109 | 106 | 110 | 102 | 103 | 89 | 76 |
| Low °F | 5 | 12 | 17 | 25 | 39 | 52 | 57 | 53 | 42 | 28 | 18 | 10 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.7 | 6.1 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 5.7 |
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 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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9, closest first.
State Park
Ghost Town
Scenic Viewpoint
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9?
What time is golden hour at Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9?
Where does the sun rise and set at Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9?
Can you see the Milky Way from Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9?
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Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.