See the Moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Kentucky in 2025

Cumberland Falls Map

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What’s a Moonbow?

A “moonbow” is a naturally occurring occasion when moonlight is mirrored off water droplets within the air round a waterfall and creates a colourful lunar rainbow.

Moonbows are uncommon as a result of it requires three components working in live performance:

• A churning waterfall with a transparent line of sight to the sky
• A full moon
• A cloudless night time

How a Moonbow Works

A full moon will mirror about 13% of the Solar’s mild again to Earth. That is simply sufficient mild to create a lunar rainbow within the heavy mists on the base of a churning waterfall.

Nevertheless it have to be a cloudless night time – even faint, wispy clouds are sufficient to stop the moonbow from showing.

So, if a churning waterfall has a transparent line of sight to the sky when the complete moon rises on a cloudless night time, the situations are excellent for witnessing a spectacular moonbow.

Cumberland Falls in southeast Kentucky is the one place within the South to see a moonbow.

Greatest Time to See the Moonbow

Selecting one of the best time to see the Moonbow is hard. It’s not like shopping for tickets to a film with a set begin time. It’s extra like attempting to reach at a baseball recreation simply in time for the seventh inning stretch.

The very first thing it is advisable perceive in regards to the Moonbow are two phrases you’ll see the calendars under.

Zenith: The time when a celestial object is straight overhead.

Astronomical Twilight: The time earlier than dawn and after sundown when the fading daylight within the sky provides technique to a darkish sky. The top of astronomical twilight is one of the best time to see the moonbow as a result of the sky is darkish sufficient for stars to look.

With these phrases in thoughts, right here’s the way you select one of the best time to see the Moonbow:

• Two days earlier than or after the complete moon
• Arrive about half an hour after the tip of astronomical twilight -or- two hours after moonrise, whichever is later
• Depart about half an hour after zenith
• Count on to remain 2-3 hours to see the Moonbow

The earliest it is best to try to view the moonbow is about half an hour after the tip of astronomical twilight. That is about two hours after sundown. Winter sunsets are early. However in the summertime, astronomical twilight gained’t finish till virtually midnight.

Do you know a full moon rises at sundown? The moon rises about half an hour earlier every day earlier than the complete moon and half an hour later after the complete moon. This implies one of the best time to see the moon adjustments by about half an hour every day. And it’s higher to see the Moonbow sooner than later – on or earlier than the complete moon.

It takes about 2-3 hours after moonrise for the Moon to rise excessive sufficient within the sky for the mirrored daylight to strike Cumberland Falls. For those who arrive earlier, you may see the moonbow – but it surely gained’t be as vibrant as later.

The most recent it is best to try to view the moonbow is about half an hour after zenith. As soon as the Moon reaches the very best level within the sky for the night time, it shortly descends into the forest surrounding the waterfall.

The very best time to see the moonbow is from half an hour after the tip of astronomical twilight till half an hour after zenith when the Moon reaches the very best level within the sky.

Cumberland Falls Moonbow Dates in 2025

Are you able to see the spectacular moonbow? Use these charts to plan your journey to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Preserve observe of the upcoming schedule with this Google Calendar with the entire dates listed under.

Dates in daring are the complete moon.

January

February

March

April

Might

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Attending to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

I returned to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park a 12 months after studying in regards to the moonbow. I used to be staying at a cabin within the Huge South Fork Nationwide River & Recreation about 45 minutes away. For months I had deliberate to see the moonbow – the time was lastly approaching.

The park is hidden, however straightforward to search out alongside KY Freeway 90 – it’s solely a couple of 20-minute drive from I-75. However it would really feel like for much longer on the winding, two-lane freeway. It’s a scenic drive throughout daytime, however at night time it seems like a tunnel on a carnival trip.

There’s loads of parking on the customer heart beside the river. However on the night time of a moonbow, significantly if the situations are favorable, the car parking zone steadily fills up. If the car parking zone is full, strive parking on the picnic space throughout the highway – however watch out strolling throughout the highway at night time!

7351 KY Freeway 90, Corbin, KY | 606-528-8412 | https://parks.ky.gov/corbin/parks/resort/cumberland-falls-state-resort-park

Insider Tip: Plan to reach on the park about 3 hours earlier than the Zenith Time – see the chart above – to ensure a parking house. Searching for one thing to do whereas ready for the moonbow? Convey a folding chair and stroll about ten minutes on the Moonbow Path to a seashore space beside the river.

Greatest Place to See the Cumberland Falls Moonbow

After discovering parking, head towards the customer heart. There is no such thing as a admission price for seeing the moonbow, however you’ll must move by way of the customer heart advanced to achieve the waterfall.

The very best place to see the Cumberland Falls moonbow is the Higher Overlook. It’s lower than a five-minute stroll alongside a paved path from the customer heart. The overlook is located on the prime of the waterfall simply toes from the churning water. Steel rails cemented into the uncovered rocks retains folks a secure distance away from the turbulent water.

From this overlook, you’ll see the complete spectacle of the moonbow.

The appropriately named Moonbow Path descends a flight of concrete stairs, resulting in a hidden Decrease Overlook. Though this was my favourite place to view the waterfall by daylight, it was not a great place to see the moonbow.

Suggestions for a Improbable Expertise

Listed below are a number of ideas that will help you take advantage of out of your journey to witness the Cumberland Falls Moonbow.

• Arrive early. You gained’t be capable to see one of the best impact of the moonbow till about an hour or two after sundown, however I’d nonetheless suggest arriving early to snag a parking spot.
• Don’t wait till the final day. There’s a five-day window every month to see the moonbow. Strive going a day or two earlier than the complete moon, moderately than ready till a day or two after.
• Convey a flashlight or headlamp. For apparent causes there are not any road lamps or lighting across the Higher Overlook. However watch out to not shine the road in anybody’s face or towards any cameras.
• Convey a chair, snacks, perhaps a blanket, and get comfy.
• For one of the best expertise e-book a few nights at DuPont Lodge within the park. It’s only a 0.5-mile hike from the lodge to the customer heart car parking zone alongside the Cumberland Falls Path.

Images Suggestions for Capturing the Moonbow

A mirrorless or bridge digital camera or a smartphone with the power to manually management the settings is one of the best sort of digital camera for capturing photographs of the moonbow. However though smartphone cameras have come a great distance over simply the previous few years, most smartphone nonetheless can not seize an ideal photograph of the nighttime occasion.

Listed below are some recommendations on organising a digital camera or smartphone to seize photographs of the moonbow:

Digital Digital camera

• Set the digital camera on a sturdy tripod
• Use a distant shutter launch or smartphone app to set off the digital camera
• Set the ISO to 800-1600
• Set the aperture to f/5.6, f/4, or f/2.8
• Begin with an publicity of 30 seconds. If the photograph is just too darkish or vibrant, modify the publicity time – however don’t change the opposite settings

Smartphone Digital camera

• Flip off the digital camera flash
• Connect the smartphone to a sturdy tripod
• Use an app like Digital camera+
• If potential, set the app to Shutter Precedence mode
• Lock the main target within the digital camera app
• Begin with the longest publicity potential for the smartphone
• Set a selfie timer to seize the photographs

The place to Keep

The plain alternative could be to remain on the state park whereas viewing the Moonbow, however if you would like a extra comfy resort you’ll should journey again to Corbin, Kentucky. It will likely be a simple drive, however it would even be late.

High quality Suites is a reasonably comfy budget-friendly resort positioned alongside I-75. The resort options an outside swimming pool and complimentary breakfast. Select from rooms with two queen beds or a single king mattress.

Pink Roof Inn & Suites is a superb alternative for place to remain. Situated alongside I-75, the resort options inside entry rooms and an outside swimming pool. Rooms function renovated fake hardwood flooring and cozy furnishings.

The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Lodge contains a dozen varieties of rooms starting from a single mattress to a two-bedroom suite in a cottage. The rooms function comfy furnishings, free on-site parking, and a variety of facilities.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park consists of two campgrounds with a complete of fifty campsites. 21 campsites have electrical hookups whereas water is on the market for all of the websites. The 2 campgrounds are positioned alongside the river with spectacular views.

Corbin/Laurel Lake KOA could be an ideal place to spend a number of nights. The property options giant RV websites, tent websites, and tiny dwelling leases. You’ll benefit from the nights with a mountaineering path to the lake and outside swimming pool.

Regularly Requested Questions