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35.5496° N83.1721° W1,444 mBortle 3New York

Flat Creek Falls Photography Guide

Waterfall in Swain County, North Carolina · 1,444 m (4,738 ft)

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Flat Creek Falls is a waterfall in Swain County, North Carolina at about 1,444 m (4,738 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 7.6 km (4.7 mi) WNW of Maggie Valley.

Elevation
1,444 m
4,738 ft
Nearest town
Maggie Valley
7.6 km (4.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
October
48% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:24 PM
sunset 6:59 PM

Light at Flat Creek Falls

Live
Sunrise
7:44 AM
Sunset
6:52 PM
Golden hour AM
7:28 AM – 8:19 AM
Golden hour PM
6:18 PM – 7:08 PM
Blue hour AM
7:18 AM – 7:28 AM
Blue hour PM
7:08 PM – 7:18 PM
Full darkness
8:17 PM – 6:20 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:53 PM / 1:58 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 Flat Creek 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 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)7:37 AM90° E7:45 PM271° W54°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:18 AM60° ENE8:52 PM300° WNW78°14h 34m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:21 AM89° E7:31 PM271° W55°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:39 AM119° ESE5:24 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

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
January7:14 AM7:42 AM8:20 AM5:05 PM5:43 PM6:11 PM10h 01m
February6:54 AM7:20 AM7:56 AM5:40 PM6:15 PM6:41 PM10h 55m
March7:19 AM7:44 AM8:18 AM7:07 PM7:41 PM8:06 PM11h 56m
April6:35 AM7:01 AM7:35 AM7:32 PM8:06 PM8:32 PM13h 05m
May6:01 AM6:29 AM7:05 AM7:55 PM8:31 PM8:59 PM14h 02m
June5:48 AM6:18 AM6:55 AM8:13 PM8:50 PM9:20 PM14h 33m
July6:00 AM6:29 AM7:06 AM8:12 PM8:49 PM9:19 PM14h 20m
August6:26 AM6:53 AM7:28 AM7:49 PM8:24 PM8:51 PM13h 31m
September6:51 AM7:16 AM7:50 AM7:08 PM7:42 PM8:07 PM12h 25m
October7:14 AM7:40 AM8:14 AM6:24 PM6:59 PM7:24 PM11h 19m
November6:42 AM7:09 AM7:46 AM4:50 PM5:27 PM5:54 PM10h 18m
December7:07 AM7:36 AM8:15 AM4:42 PM5:22 PM5:50 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 Flat Creek Falls, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
February5:21 AM – 5:51 AM0.515°SE → SE
March4:26 AM – 6:16 AM1.822°SE → SSE
April2:26 AM – 5:26 AM3.025°SE → S
May12:31 AM – 4:41 AM4.226°SE → SSW
June10:39 PM – 4:29 AM5.826°SE → SW
July10:34 PM – 3:04 AM4.526°SSE → SW
August9:57 PM – 12:57 AM3.025°S → SW
September9:08 PM – 10:58 PM1.822°SSW → SW
October8:24 PM – 8:54 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.55 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). 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 °F6871818087101999795928172
Low °F-3-11021314248473623126
Precip. (in)4.45.34.54.84.44.75.54.14.33.54.35.3

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.

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 Flat Creek Falls, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Horsetrough Ridge Overlook2.1 km away · Swain County · 1,404 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Overlook Ridge2.7 km away · Swain County · 1,632 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Heintooga Overlook2.7 km away · Swain County · 1,620 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Mile High Overlook3.4 km away · Haywood County · 1,593 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Bunches Bald Overlook4.2 km away · Jackson County · 1,502 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Plott Balsam Overlook4.6 km away · Jackson County · 1,509 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lickstone Overlook4.7 km away · Jackson County · 1,581 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Jenkins Ridge Overlook5.0 km away · Swain County · 1,368 m
Mountain Pass
Big Witch Gap5.1 km away · Jackson County · 1,262 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Flat Creek Falls?
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. 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 Flat Creek Falls?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:24 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:59 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:14 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Flat Creek Falls?
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 Flat Creek Falls?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Flat Creek 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 Flat Creek Falls from Maggie Valley?
About 7.6 km (4.7 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.