Cathedral Falls — a waterfall in Fayette County, West Virginia — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 7.2 km (4.5 mi) WNW of Ansted.
From the National Park Service
New River Gorge Waterfall Tour Stop 2:
Near the town of Gauley Bridge, Cane Creek drops 60 feet over a rocky ledge of shale and sandstone to form one of the highest waterfalls in West Virginia. Cathedral Falls is easily accessed and viewed from the road. A paved path to a bridge offers good views of the falls. A short dirt trail leads to a closer look. The short trail is not accessible and may be slippery. Use caution when walking closer to the base of the falls. Directions Cathedral Falls is located outside the park near the town of Gauley Bridge.
If Following Waterfall Tour from Kanawha Falls : Continue west on Highway 60 through the town of Gauley Bridge towards Ansted. In 2.7 miles there will be a small parking lot on the left marked for Cathedral Falls. Follow the short trail from the parking lot to reach a closer view of the falls.
From Canyon Rim Visitor Center: Take US-19 north. Exit to follow Highway 60 west through Ansted towards the town of Gauley Bridge. In 14.3 miles, there will be a small parking lot on the right marked for Cathedral Falls. Follow the short trail from the parking lot to reach a closer view of the falls.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cathedral Falls 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 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:29 AM | 90° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:03 AM | 59° ENE | 8:52 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 49m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:38 AM | 120° ESE | 5:09 PM | 241° WSW | 28° | 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 | 7:12 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:58 PM | 9h 48m |
| February | 6:49 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:27 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:12 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:58 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:23 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 14m |
| June | 5:30 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:22 PM | 14h 48m |
| July | 5:44 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 34m |
| August | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:42 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:01 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:07 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:10 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:15 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 07m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 32m |
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 Cathedral Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:22 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:40 AM – 6:00 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:35 AM – 5:05 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:35 AM – 4:25 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:47 PM – 3:57 AM | 5.2 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:40 PM – 2:40 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:59 PM – 12:39 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:04 PM – 10:34 PM | 1.5 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:16 PM – 8:36 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: 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 ≈ 21.7 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 52% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (77%). 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 | 72 | 74 | 85 | 84 | 98 | 99 | 103 | 100 | 98 | 95 | 80 | 75 |
| Low °F | -3 | -2 | -2 | 21 | 28 | 40 | 51 | 48 | 38 | 26 | 13 | 2 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
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
- 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.
- 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
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 Cathedral Falls, closest first.
Waterfall
State Park
CanyonWaterfall
Ghost Town
Ghost Town
State Park
Ghost Town
Rock FormationCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Brooklyn Campground23 km (14 mi)
- Battle Run25 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Summersville Lake Shelters26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Long Point Campground28 km (17 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cathedral Falls?
What time is golden hour at Cathedral Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Cathedral Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cathedral Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cathedral Falls?
How far is Cathedral Falls from Ansted?
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.