Practically 100 individuals crowded the Higher Overlook, eagerly gazing into the darkish abyss above the thundering waterfall on the lookout for a touch of a lunar rainbow. It was a superbly clear evening with twinkling stars above and the moonlight was beaming brightly. Someplace within the mist above Cumberland Falls, I may see the faint moonbow.
After which my digicam’s shutter clicked. The intense LCD got here to life. There was the picture of an excellent lunar rainbow reflecting within the water droplets within the air.
It was the primary time I’d seen the Cumberland Falls moonbow in Kentucky. And years later, it’s nonetheless one thing I take into consideration each month. If you wish to witness this phenomenal pure occasion, right here is every part it is advisable to know to plan the very best journey.
Cumberland Falls Map
How you can 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 objects to show extra info. In case you have a Google account, click on the (very faint) star on the finish of the map’s title to avoid wasting 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 parts 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 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.
However it should be a cloudless evening – 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 total moon rises on a cloudless evening, the situations 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 very best 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 attempting to reach at a baseball recreation simply in time for the seventh inning stretch.
The very first thing it is advisable to perceive concerning the Moonbow are two phrases you’ll see the calendars beneath.
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 tip of astronomical twilight is the very best 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 very best time to see the Moonbow:
- Two days earlier than or after the total 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 virtually midnight.
Do you know a full moon rises at sundown? The moon rises about half an hour earlier every day earlier than the total moon and half an hour later after the total moon. This implies the very 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 total 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. If you happen to arrive earlier, you may see the moonbow – nevertheless it received’t be as shiny as later.
The newest you need 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 evening, it shortly descends into the forest surrounding the waterfall.
The perfect 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 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. Maintain monitor of the upcoming schedule with this Google Calendar with the entire dates listed beneath.
Dates in daring are the total moon.
January
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 11 | 3:13 p.m. | 11:08 p.m. | 7:41 p.m. to 11:38 p.m. |
| Sunday, January 12 | 4:16 p.m. | 11:38 p.m. | 7:42 p.m. to 12:08 a.m. |
| Monday, January 13 | 5:24 p.m. | 12:08 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. to 12:38 p.m. |
| Tuesday, January 14 | 6:32 p.m. | 1:05 a.m. | 8:32 p.m. to 1:35 a.m. |
| Wednesday, January 15 | 7:39 p.m. | 1:58 a.m. | 9:39 p.m. to 2:28 a.m. |
February
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, February 10 | 4:17 p.m. | 11:49 p.m. | 8:09 p.m. to 12:19 a.m. |
| Tuesday, February 11 | 5:24 p.m. | 12:14 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. to 12:44 p.m. |
| Wednesday, February 12 | 6:29 p.m. | 12:39 a.m. | 8:29 p.m. to 1:09 p.m. |
| Thursday, February 13 | 7:30 p.m. | 1:24 a.m. | 9:30 p.m. to 1:54 a.m. |
| Friday, February 14 | 8:30 p.m. | 2:06 a.m. | 10:30 p.m. to 2:36 a.m. |
March
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, March 12 | 6:20 p.m. | 12:21 am | 9:37 p.m. to 12:51 p.m. |
| Thursday, March 13 | 7:20 p.m. | 1:03 a.m. | 9:38 p.m. to 1:33 a.m. |
| Friday, March 14 | 8:18 p.m. | 1:44 a.m. | 10:18 p.m. to 2:14 a.m. |
| Saturday, March 15 | 9:16 p.m. | 2:23 a.m. | 11:16 p.m. to 2:53 a.m. |
| Sunday, March 16 | 10:15 p.m. | 3:03 a.m. | 12:15 a.m. to three:33 a.m. |
April
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, April 10 | 6:12 p.m. | 11:40 p.m. | 10:07 p.m. to 12:10 a.m. |
| Friday, April 11 | 7:09 p.m. | 12:23 a.m. | 10:08 p.m. to 12:53 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 12 | 8:07 p.m. | 1:02 a.m. | 10:10 p.m. to 1:32 a.m. |
| Sunday, April 13 | 9:06 p.m. | 1:42 a.m. | 11:06 p.m. to 2:12 a.m. |
| Monday, April 14 | 10:06 p.m. | 2:24 a.m. | 12:06 a.m. to 2:54 a.m. |
Might
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Might 10 | 6:59 p.m. | 11:40 p.m. | 10:44 p.m. to 12:10 a.m. |
| Sunday, Might 11 | 7:59 p.m. | 12:22 a.m. | 10:46 p.m. to 12:52 p.m. |
| Monday, Might 12 | 9:00 p.m. | 1:06 a.m. | 11:00 p.m. to 1:36 a.m. |
| Tuesday, Might 13 | 10:01 p.m. | 1:52 a.m. | 12:01 a.m. to 2:22 a.m. |
| Wednesday, Might 14 | 11:00 p.m. | 2:42 a.m. | 1:00 a.m. to three:12 a.m. |
June
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, June 09 | 7:53 p.m. | 11:50 p.m. | 11:16 p.m. to 12:20 a.m. |
| Tuesday, June 10 | 8:53 p.m. | 12:37 a.m. | 11:17 p.m. to 1:07 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 11 | 9:50 p.m. | 1:29 a.m. | 11:50 p.m. to 1:59 a.m. |
| Thursday, June 12 | 10:40 p.m. | 2:23 a.m. | 12:40 a.m. to 2:53 a.m. |
| Friday, June 13 | 11:23 p.m. | 3:17 a.m. | 1:23 a.m. to three:47 a.m. |
July
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, July 08 | 7:42 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. | 11:18 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, July 09 | 8:35 p.m. | 12:15 a.m. | 11:17 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
| Thursday, July 10 | 9:21 p.m. | 1:10 a.m. | 11:21 p.m. to 1:40 a.m. |
| Friday, July 11 | 10:01 p.m. | 2:05 a.m. | 12:01 a.m. to 2:35 a.m. |
| Saturday, July 12 | 10:34 p.m. | 2:57 a.m. | 12:34 a.m. to three:27 a.m. |
August
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, August 07 | 7:58 p.m. | 11:48 p.m. | 10:45 p.m. to 12:18 a.m. |
| Friday, August 08 | 8:34 p.m. | 12:48 a.m. | 10:43 p.m. to 1:18 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 09 | 9:05 p.m. | 1:40 a.m. | 11:05 p.m. to 2:10 a.m. |
| Sunday, August 10 | 9:32 p.m. | 2:30 a.m. | 11:32 p.m. to three:00 a.m. |
| Monday, August 11 | 9:59 p.m. | 3:18 a.m. | 11:59 p.m. to three:48 a.m. |
September
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 05 | 7:03 p.m. | 11:30 p.m. | 9:57 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. |
| Saturday, September 06 | 7:32 p.m. | 12:20 am | 9:56 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. |
| Sunday, September 07 | 8:00 p.m. | 1:09 a.m. | 10:00 p.m. to 1:39 a.m. |
| Monday, September 08 | 8:26 p.m. | 1:57 a.m. | 10:26 p.m. to 2:27 a.m. |
| Tuesday, September 09 | 8:54 p.m. | 2:46 a.m. | 10:54 p.m. to three:16 a.m. |
October
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 04 | 5:58 p.m. | 11:45 p.m. | 9:10 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. |
| Sunday, October 05 | 6:25 p.m. | 12:15 a.m. | 9:09 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
| Monday, October 06 | 6:52 p.m. | 12:33 a.m. | 9:07 p.m. to 1:03 p.m. |
| Tuesday, October 07 | 7:22 p.m. | 1:23 a.m. | 9:22 p.m. to 1:53 a.m. |
| Wednesday, October 08 | 7:56 p.m. | 2:16 a.m. | 9:56 p.m. to 2:46 a.m. |
November
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, November 03 | 4:17 p.m. | 10:59 p.m. | 7:34 p.m. to 11:29 p.m. |
| Tuesday, November 04 | 4:49 p.m. | 11:54 p.m. | 7:33 p.m. to 12:24 a.m. |
| Wednesday, November 05 | 5:27 p.m. | 12:20 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. |
| Thursday, November 06 | 6:13 p.m. | 12:54 a.m. | 8:13 p.m. to 1:24 p.m. |
| Friday, November 07 | 7:10 p.m. | 1:59 a.m. | 9:10 p.m. to 2:29 a.m. |
December
| Date | Moonrise | Zenith | Greatest Time to View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, December 02 | 3:17 p.m. | 10:33 p.m. | 7:21 p.m. to 11:03 p.m. |
| Wednesday, December 03 | 3:58 p.m. | 11:34 p.m. | 7:21 p.m. to 12:04 a.m. |
| Thursday, December 04 | 4:50 p.m. | 12:15 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. |
| Friday, December 05 | 5:53 p.m. | 12:41 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. to 1:11 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 06 | 7:05 p.m. | 1:49 a.m. | 9:05 p.m. to 2:19 a.m. |
Attending to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
I returned to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park a 12 months after studying concerning the moonbow. I used to be staying at a cabin within the Large 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 seek out alongside KY Freeway 90 – it’s solely a couple of 20-minute drive from I-75. However it should really feel like for much longer on the winding, two-lane freeway. It’s a scenic drive throughout daytime, however at evening it seems like a tunnel on a carnival experience.
There’s loads of parking on the customer middle beside the river. However on the evening of a moonbow, significantly if the situations are favorable, the parking zone continuously fills up. If the parking zone is full, strive 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. Searching for one thing to do whereas ready for the moonbow? Deliver 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 is no such thing as a admission price for seeing the moonbow, however you’ll have to move by means of the customer middle advanced to succeed in the waterfall.
The perfect 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 prime of the waterfall simply toes from the churning water. Steel rails cemented into the uncovered rocks retains individuals a protected distance away from the turbulent water.
From this overlook, you’ll see the total 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 here 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 received’t be capable to see the very best impact of the moonbow till about an hour or two after sundown, however I might 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 total moon, fairly than ready till a day or two after.
- Deliver a flashlight or headlamp. For apparent causes there aren’t 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.
- Deliver a chair, snacks, perhaps a blanket, and get comfy.
- For the very 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 middle parking zone alongside the Cumberland Falls Path.
Pictures Suggestions for Capturing the Moonbow
A mirrorless or bridge digicam or a smartphone with the flexibility to manually management the settings is the very best form of digicam for capturing images of the moonbow. However though smartphone cameras have come a great distance over simply the previous few years, most smartphone nonetheless can’t seize an incredible picture of the nighttime occasion.
Listed here are some tips about establishing 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 picture is simply too darkish or shiny, alter 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 potential, set the app to Shutter Precedence mode
- Lock the main focus within the digicam app
- Begin with the longest publicity potential for the smartphone
- Set a selfie timer to seize the images
The place to Keep
The plain alternative can be to remain on the state park whereas viewing the Moonbow, however if you’d like a extra comfy resort you’ll should journey again to Corbin, Kentucky. It will likely be a simple drive, however it should even be late.
High quality Suites is a reasonably comfy budget-friendly resort situated 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 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 comfy furnishings.
The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Lodge incorporates a dozen sorts 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 contains two campgrounds with a complete of fifty campsites. 21 campsites have electrical hookups whereas water is accessible for all of the websites. The 2 campgrounds are situated alongside the river with spectacular views.
Corbin/Laurel Lake KOA can be an incredible place to spend a number of nights. The property options giant RV websites, tent websites, and tiny residence leases. You’ll benefit from the nights with a mountain climbing path to the lake and out of doors swimming pool.
Steadily Requested Questions
Moonbows are created when moonlight from a full moon is mirrored in water droplets above a waterfall.
Sure and no. Moonbows can occur each month when there’s a full moon. Nevertheless, to see a moonbow you want a cloudless evening and many water droplets within the air.
Moonbows can seem anyplace a robust waterfall has clear sky overhead. A few of the hottest locations for a moonbow in the US is Niagara Falls, Yosemite Falls, and Cumberland Falls. Victoria Falls in Africa is likely one of the greatest locations to see a moonbow on the planet.
A moonbow seems to be like a faint rainbow with the total spectrum of colour mirrored in water droplets.
You’ll be able to see moonbows two days earlier than and after a full moon every month. Nevertheless, the spring months are the very best time of 12 months to see the moonbow.
