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35.4976° N82.5937° W637 mBortle 5New York

French Broad River Overlook Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Buncombe County, North Carolina · 637 m (2,090 ft)

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

French Broad River Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Buncombe County, North Carolina at about 637 m (2,090 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 1.8 km (1.1 mi) SE of Bent Creek.

Elevation
637 m
2,090 ft
Nearest town
Bent Creek
1.8 km (1.1 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
October
47% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:22 PM
sunset 6:56 PM

Light at French Broad River Overlook

Live
Sunrise
7:42 AM
Sunset
6:50 PM
Golden hour AM
7:26 AM – 8:16 AM
Golden hour PM
6:15 PM – 7:06 PM
Blue hour AM
7:16 AM – 7:26 AM
Blue hour PM
7:06 PM – 7:16 PM
Full darkness
8:15 PM – 6:17 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:51 PM / 1:56 AM
Day length
11h 08m
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 French Broad River 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:35 AM90° E7:42 PM271° W54°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:16 AM60° ENE8:50 PM300° WNW78°14h 34m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:19 AM89° E7:29 PM271° W55°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:37 AM119° ESE5:22 PM242° WSW31°9h 45m

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
January7:12 AM7:40 AM8:18 AM5:03 PM5:41 PM6:09 PM10h 01m
February6:52 AM7:18 AM7:53 AM5:38 PM6:13 PM6:39 PM10h 55m
March7:17 AM7:42 AM8:16 AM7:05 PM7:38 PM8:04 PM11h 56m
April6:32 AM6:58 AM7:33 AM7:29 PM8:03 PM8:30 PM13h 05m
May5:58 AM6:27 AM7:03 AM7:52 PM8:29 PM8:57 PM14h 02m
June5:45 AM6:15 AM6:53 AM8:10 PM8:48 PM9:18 PM14h 33m
July5:58 AM6:27 AM7:04 AM8:10 PM8:47 PM9:16 PM14h 20m
August6:23 AM6:50 AM7:25 AM7:46 PM8:21 PM8:48 PM13h 31m
September6:48 AM7:14 AM7:47 AM7:06 PM7:39 PM8:05 PM12h 25m
October7:12 AM7:37 AM8:12 AM6:22 PM6:56 PM7:22 PM11h 19m
November6:40 AM7:07 AM7:44 AM4:48 PM5:25 PM5:52 PM10h 18m
December7:05 AM7:33 AM8:12 AM4:40 PM5:20 PM5:48 PM9h 46m

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 French Broad River Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
February5:18 AM – 5:48 AM0.515°SE → SE
March4:23 AM – 6:13 AM1.822°SE → SSE
April2:23 AM – 5:23 AM3.025°SE → S
May12:28 AM – 4:38 AM4.226°SE → SSW
June10:36 PM – 4:26 AM5.826°SE → SW
July10:31 PM – 3:01 AM4.526°SSE → SW
August9:54 PM – 12:54 AM3.025°S → SW
September9:05 PM – 10:55 PM1.822°SSW → SW
October8:21 PM – 8:51 PM0.515°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.48 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (60%). 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 °F70727981881011009894928072
Low °F-2-352132424947352495
Precip. (in)3.84.24.14.54.74.75.34.74.73.84.14.8

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 scenic viewpoint

  • Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
  • Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
  • A panorama of 3–5 vertical frames gives more resolution and a wider view without a fisheye look.
  • Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

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 French Broad River Overlook, closest first.

North Carolina ArboretumBotanical Garden
North Carolina Arboretum1.4 km away · Buncombe County
Scenic Viewpoint
Reynolds Gap Overlook3.2 km away · Buncombe County · 866 m
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Sleepy Gap Overlook4.8 km away · Buncombe County · 894 m
Chestnut Cove OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Chestnut Cove Overlook5.7 km away · Buncombe County · 911 m
Beaver Dam Gap OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Beaver Dam Gap Overlook9.2 km away · Buncombe County
Mountain Pass
Beaverdam Gap9.2 km away · Henderson County · 1,093 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Stony Bald Parking Overlook10 km away · Henderson County · 1,144 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Big Ridge Parking Overlook12 km away · Henderson County · 1,156 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Standhill Mountain Overlook13 km away · Buncombe County · 1,210 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph French Broad River Overlook?
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. 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 French Broad River Overlook?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:22 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:56 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:12 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at French Broad River Overlook?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from French Broad River Overlook?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at French Broad River 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 French Broad River Overlook from Bent Creek?
About 1.8 km (1.1 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.