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

Cumberland Falls Map

Methods to use this map: Zoom out to see extra lodging choices. Click on the icon within the top-left nook to open the Map Legend, then click on on any of the legend gadgets to show extra data. In case you have a Google account, click on the (very faint) star on the finish of the map’s title to save lots of this map to your account, then entry the map out of your smartphone throughout your journey.

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 evening

How a Moonbow Works

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

However it should be a cloudless evening – even faint, wispy clouds are sufficient to forestall 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 evening, the circumstances are good 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 the perfect time to see the Moonbow is difficult. It’s not like shopping for tickets to a film with a set begin time. It’s extra like making an attempt to reach at a baseball recreation simply in time for the seventh inning stretch.

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

Zenith: The time when a celestial object is instantly 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 the perfect time to see the moonbow as a result of the sky is darkish sufficient for stars to seem.

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

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

The earliest you need to try to view the moonbow is about half an hour after the top of astronomical twilight. That is about two hours after sundown. Winter sunsets are early. However in the summertime, astronomical twilight received’t finish till nearly 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 the perfect time to see the moon modifications 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. When you arrive earlier, you may see the moonbow – but it surely received’t be as vibrant as later.

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

One of the best time to see the moonbow is from half an hour after the top of astronomical twilight till half an hour after zenith when the Moon reaches the 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 all the dates listed under.

Dates in daring are the complete moon.

January

February

March

April

Could

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 Massive 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 few 20-minute drive from I-75. However it’s going to really feel like for much longer on the winding, two-lane freeway. It’s a scenic drive throughout daylight, however at evening it seems like a tunnel on a carnival trip.

There’s loads of parking on the customer middle beside the river. However on the evening of a moonbow, notably if the circumstances are favorable, the car parking zone continuously fills up. If the car parking zone is full, attempt parking on the picnic space throughout the highway – however watch out strolling throughout the highway at evening!

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 area. On the lookout 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 middle. There isn’t a admission payment for seeing the moonbow, however you’ll have to cross by way of the customer middle complicated to achieve the waterfall.

One of the 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 middle. The overlook is located on the high of the waterfall simply toes from the churning water. Metallic rails cemented into the uncovered rocks retains individuals 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 superb place to see the moonbow.

Suggestions for a Implausible Expertise

Listed here are just a few ideas that can assist you take advantage of out of your journey to witness the Cumberland Falls Moonbow.

• Arrive early. You received’t be capable of see the perfect impact of the moonbow till about an hour or two after sundown, however I’d nonetheless advocate 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, somewhat than ready till a day or two after.
• Convey a flashlight or headlamp. For apparent causes there are not any avenue 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, possibly a blanket, and get snug.
• For the perfect expertise ebook a few nights at DuPont Lodge within the park. It’s only a 0.5-mile hike from the lodge to the customer middle car parking zone alongside the Cumberland Falls Path.

Pictures Suggestions for Capturing the Moonbow

A mirrorless or bridge digicam or a smartphone with the power to manually management the settings is the perfect form of digicam for capturing images of the moonbow. However though smartphone cameras have come a good distance over simply the previous few years, most smartphone nonetheless can not seize an ideal photograph of the nighttime occasion.

Listed here are some recommendations on organising a digicam or smartphone to seize images of the moonbow:

Digital Digital camera

• Set the digicam on a sturdy tripod
• Use a distant shutter launch or smartphone app to set off the digicam
• 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 digicam flash
• Connect the smartphone to a sturdy tripod
• Use an app like Digital camera+
• If doable, set the app to Shutter Precedence mode
• Lock the main target within the digicam app
• Begin with the longest publicity doable for the smartphone
• Set a selfie timer to seize the images

The place to Keep

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

High quality Suites is a reasonably snug 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.

Purple Roof Inn & Suites is a wonderful selection for place to remain. Situated alongside I-75, the resort options inside entry rooms and an outside swimming pool. Rooms characteristic renovated fake hardwood flooring and comfy furnishings.

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

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park contains two campgrounds with a complete of fifty campsites. 21 campsites have electrical hookups whereas water is out there 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 just a few nights. The property options massive RV websites, tent websites, and tiny house leases. You’ll benefit from the nights with a mountain climbing path to the lake and out of doors swimming pool.

Continuously Requested Questions