Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail — a waterfall in Meade County, Kentucky — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Brandenburg, about 700 m away (Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail lies NNE of town).
From the National Park Service
The Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail was initially developed in 1996 by turning 2.5 miles of county road into a trail that connects Riverfront Park, on the banks of the Ohio River in Brandenburg east to Kentucky State Route 933. This riverside trail winds through the wooded, scenic area along Flippins Run Creek. The Buttermilk Falls Trail (2.5 miles) includes a wooden footbridge over one of the many streams and passes Buttermilk Falls. These falls are formed from a series of hillside springs that run throughout the year. This spring system once supplied water to many of Meade County’s residents. Emmert Falls Primitive Trail (1.1 miles) gently climbs through the hardwoods above, a trail spur leads to Emmert Falls and a pavilion with seating. Both trails converge at the “learning tree”, a 100-year-old Osage Orange Tree, a popular gathering spot with handmade sassafras benches. Its highlight during the spring is the wildflowers that grace the forest floor. Common species include Blue Bells, Dutchmen’s Britches, Shooting Stars, Wild Ginger, Trillium, and Yellow trout lilies.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:49 AM | 90° E | 7:57 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:23 AM | 59° ENE | 9:11 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 48m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:33 AM | 89° E | 7:43 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:58 AM | 120° ESE | 5:29 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 31m |
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 | 7:31 AM | 8:00 AM | 8:40 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:18 PM | 9h 49m |
| February | 7:09 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:51 PM | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:31 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:32 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:18 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:43 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:13 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:51 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:02 AM | 8:30 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:41 PM | 14h 47m |
| July | 6:04 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:13 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:08 PM | 9:38 PM | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:33 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:08 PM | 13h 39m |
| September | 7:01 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:21 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:27 AM | 7:54 AM | 8:29 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:35 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:58 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:02 PM | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:25 AM | 7:54 AM | 8:36 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:57 PM | 9h 33m |
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 Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:42 AM – 6:02 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:50 AM – 6:20 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:54 AM – 5:34 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:54 AM – 4:44 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 11:05 PM – 4:25 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:59 PM – 2:59 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:18 PM – 12:58 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:24 PM – 10:54 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:36 PM – 8:56 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.51 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 67 | 72 | 80 | 83 | 89 | 107 | 107 | 101 | 101 | 94 | 80 | 71 |
| Low °F | -6 | -8 | -1 | 23 | 32 | 42 | 51 | 51 | 38 | 25 | 12 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
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
- Shoot a vertical and a horizontal frame; tall falls often work better in portrait orientation.
- 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.
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail, closest first.
Cave
WaterfallWaterfall
Fire LookoutCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
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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.