Katy Falls — a waterfall in Howard County, Arkansas — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It is part of Caney Creek Wilderness. The nearest town is Mena, about 26 km (16 mi) away (Katy Falls lies SE of town).
Katy Falls in the Caney Creek Wilderness is a 12-foot waterfall in the Ouachita National Forest. Katy Falls is on a spur near where the Buckeye Trail joins the Caney Creek Trail. Also nearby is the mouth of Katy Creek, where it flows into Caney Creek.From the Wikipedia article “Katy Falls”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Katy Falls 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) | 7:21 AM | 90° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:05 AM | 61° ENE | 8:33 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 27m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:05 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:20 AM | 118° ESE | 5:11 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 51m |
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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:56 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 06m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:26 PM | 10h 58m |
| March | 7:03 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:14 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 5:47 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:35 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:00 PM | 14h 27m |
| July | 5:47 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:30 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 14m |
| August | 6:12 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:43 PM | 7:08 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:13 PM | 5:40 PM | 10h 23m |
| December | 6:48 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 52m |
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 Katy Falls, 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:54 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:08 AM – 5:58 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:06 AM – 5:06 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:10 AM – 4:30 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:16 PM – 4:16 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:12 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:37 PM – 12:47 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:49 PM | 2.0 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:46 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: 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 ≈ 21.84 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 (62%). 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 | 76 | 81 | 88 | 97 | 107 | 107 | 112 | 104 | 92 | 83 | 76 |
| Low °F | 0 | 2 | 10 | 25 | 34 | 52 | 55 | 54 | 43 | 28 | 17 | 9 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.2 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
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
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drones may not take off from or land in federally designated wilderness, where mechanized equipment is prohibited under the Wilderness Act.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Katy Falls, closest first.
Wilderness Area
Fire Lookout
Ghost Town
State Park
Waterfall
National ForestCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Blue Ridge Park23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Little Coon Creek Park24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Big Coon Creek25 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Cossatot Reefs25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Horseshoe Bend (Dierks Lake)28 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Katy Falls?
What time is golden hour at Katy Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Katy Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Katy Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Katy Falls?
How far is Katy Falls from Mena?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.