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35.7219° N92.9493° W415 mBortle 2Chicago

Falling Water Falls Photography Guide

Waterfall in Pope County, Arkansas · 415 m (1,362 ft)

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–300°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Located in Pope County, Arkansas, Falling Water Falls is a waterfall at about 415 m (1,362 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 35 km (22 mi) SW of Marshall.

Wikidata describes it as: “waterfall in Arkansas, United States of America”.

Elevation
415 m
1,362 ft
Nearest town
Marshall
35 km (22 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
September
42% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:03 PM
sunset 6:38 PM

Light at Falling Water Falls

Live
Sunrise
7:23 AM
Sunset
6:31 PM
Golden hour AM
7:07 AM – 7:58 AM
Golden hour PM
5:56 PM – 6:47 PM
Blue hour AM
6:57 AM – 7:07 AM
Blue hour PM
6:47 PM – 6:57 PM
Full darkness
7:56 PM – 5:59 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:34 PM / 1:38 AM
Day length
11h 08m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. 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 Falling Water Falls 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 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:16 AM90° E7:24 PM271° W54°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:57 AM60° ENE8:32 PM300° WNW78°14h 35m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:00 AM89° E7:10 PM271° W55°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:19 AM119° ESE5:03 PM241° WSW31°9h 44m

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

Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:54 AM7:22 AM8:00 AM4:44 PM5:22 PM5:50 PM10h 00m
February6:34 AM7:00 AM7:35 AM5:19 PM5:54 PM6:20 PM10h 54m
March6:58 AM7:24 AM7:57 AM6:46 PM7:20 PM7:45 PM11h 56m
April6:13 AM6:40 AM7:14 AM7:11 PM7:45 PM8:11 PM13h 06m
May5:39 AM6:08 AM6:44 AM7:34 PM8:11 PM8:39 PM14h 03m
June5:26 AM5:56 AM6:34 AM7:52 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM14h 34m
July5:39 AM6:08 AM6:45 AM7:52 PM8:29 PM8:58 PM14h 21m
August6:04 AM6:32 AM7:06 AM7:28 PM8:03 PM8:30 PM13h 31m
September6:30 AM6:55 AM7:29 AM6:47 PM7:21 PM7:46 PM12h 25m
October6:53 AM7:19 AM7:53 AM6:03 PM6:38 PM7:03 PM11h 19m
November6:21 AM6:49 AM7:26 AM4:29 PM5:06 PM5:33 PM10h 17m
December6:47 AM7:15 AM7:55 AM4:21 PM5:00 PM5:29 PM9h 45m

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 Falling Water Falls, 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
February5:00 AM – 5:30 AM0.515°SE → SE
March4:05 AM – 5:55 AM1.822°SE → SSE
April2:05 AM – 5:05 AM3.025°SE → S
May12:11 AM – 4:21 AM4.225°SE → SSW
June10:19 PM – 3:59 AM5.725°SE → SW
July10:14 PM – 2:34 AM4.325°SSE → SW
August9:37 PM – 12:37 AM3.025°S → SW
September8:47 PM – 10:37 PM1.822°SSW → SW
October8:03 PM – 8:33 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: 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 ≈ 21.81 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F7277839095107108114102938474
Low °F5-2922355356524228177
Precip. (in)3.04.14.95.15.73.53.74.13.64.24.24.3

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 waterfall

  • Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.
  • Bracket shutter speeds: 1/8 s, 1/2 s and 2 s give very different water textures and you can choose later.
  • A 3-stop ND filter lets you use slow shutter speeds even when the light is bright.
  • Shoot a vertical and a horizontal frame; tall falls often work better in portrait orientation.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.

Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Falling Water Falls, closest first.

Natural Arch
Arch Rock6.2 km away · Pope County
Natural Arch
Pedestal Rocks6.6 km away · Pope County
Natural Arch
Buzzard Roost Rocks Natural Arch19 km away · Pope County
Natural Arch
Hurricane Creek Natural Bridge25 km away · Johnson County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Falling Water Falls?
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. Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
What time is golden hour at Falling Water Falls?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:03 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:38 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:53 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Falling Water Falls?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Falling Water Falls?
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 Falling Water Falls?
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 Falling Water Falls from Marshall?
About 35 km (22 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, 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.