How to See the Spectacular Moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Kentucky in 2023

Nearly 100 individuals crowded the Upper 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 night time with twinkling stars above and the moonlight was beaming brightly. Somewhere within the mist above Cumberland Falls, I might see the faint moonbow.

And then my digital camera’s shutter clicked. The brilliant 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 need to witness this phenomenal pure occasion, right here is all the pieces you want to know to plan one of the best journey.

What is a Moonbow?

The first time I visited Cumberland Falls State Resort Park it was overcast and dreary. But it was my first time, so I parked the automobile and walked the quick distance to the highest of the roaring waterfall. I didn’t keep for lengthy, however I mentally bookmarked the park for a future journey.

Then, simply as I used to be leaving, a park ranger requested me a query that will change all the pieces. “Are you coming back tomorrow for the moonbow?”

It was the primary time I’d heard the time period, so I needed to look it up. 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 considerably uncommon as a result of it requires three parts working in live performance: a full moon, a cloudless night time, and many water droplets within the air. Here’s the way it all works collectively:

A full moon will replicate about 13% of the solar’s mild again to Earth. That is concerning the minimal quantity of sunshine required for a moonbow to seem.

Because the complete depth of the complete moon is required to see a moonbow, it must be a cloudless night time. Even faint whisps of clouds are sufficient to dam a moonbow from showing.

Finally, the moonlight requires a number of water droplets within the air to replicate and create the colourful rainbow. Small waterfalls won’t ever have a moonbow as a result of there usually are not sufficient water droplets within the air. Big, churning waterfalls that kick up a visual mist in the course of the day are finest.

Taking all these into consideration, Cumberland Falls in Kentucky is among the finest locations within the Western Hemisphere to see a moonbow.

Cumberland Falls Moonbow Dates in 2023

Use this chart to plan your journey to see the Cumberland Falls moonbow. The finest time is the night time of the complete moon, however anytime inside two days earlier than or after will also be nice instances to see it. Plan one of the best time every night time to reach to make sure you have most moonlight for the moonbow.

Here are the Cumberland Falls Moonbow dates in 2023:

Dates in daring are the complete moon

Getting 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 Big South Fork National 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 Highway 90 – it’s solely a couple of 20-minute drive from I-75. But it would really feel like for much longer on the winding, two-lane freeway. It’s a scenic drive throughout sunlight hours, however at night time it seems like a tunnel on a carnival experience.

There is loads of parking on the customer middle beside the river. But on the night time of a moonbow, notably if the circumstances are favorable, the car parking zone incessantly 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 Highway 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 Meridian Passing Time – see the chart above – to ensure a parking house. Looking for one thing to do whereas ready for the moonbow? Bring a folding chair and stroll about ten minutes on the Moonbow Trail to a seashore space beside the river.

Best Place to See the Cumberland Falls Moonbow

After discovering parking, head towards the customer middle. There is not any admission payment for seeing the moonbow, however you’ll must go via the customer middle advanced to succeed in the waterfall.

The finest place to see the Cumberland Falls moonbow is the Upper 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. Metal rails cemented into the uncovered rocks retains individuals a protected distance away from the turbulent water.

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

The appropriately named Moonbow Trail descends a flight of concrete stairs, resulting in a hidden Lower Overlook. Although this was my favourite place to view the waterfall by daylight, it was not a superb place to see the moonbow.

Best Time to See the Moonbow

Is a full moon approaching? Will or not it’s a cloudless night time? Is that waterfall churning? Even if all these circumstances are met, you continue to must know when to go to the park to see the moonbow.

And that may be a difficult reply.

For one of the best and brightest moonbow, you’ll need to wait at the least an hour after sundown. That’s straightforward within the winter months, however in the summertime the sundown might be as late as 9 p.m. You additionally don’t to attend too late. When the moon is greater than 45 levels above the horizon, the depth of the lunar rainbow will fade.

The finest time to see the moonbow is about two hours after moonrise. But plan to remain at the least two hours. During the summer season months, the moon doesn’t rise as excessive within the sky, so it takes longer for the moonlight to get above the encompassing timber. In the summer season months, it could be mandatory to remain 5 or 6 hours to see one of the best moonbow

Tips for a Fantastic Experience

Here are a number of suggestions that can assist you take advantage of out of your journey to witness the Cumberland Falls Moonbow.

• Arrive early. You gained’t be capable of see one of the 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 is a five-day window every month to see the moonbow. Try going a day or two earlier than the complete moon, fairly than ready till a day or two after.
• Bring a flashlight or headlamp. For apparent causes there are not any road lamps or lighting across the Upper Overlook. But watch out to not shine the road in anybody’s face or towards any cameras.
• Bring a chair, snacks, possibly a blanket, and get snug.
• For one of the best expertise guide 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 Trail.

Photography Tips 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 form of digital camera for capturing pictures of the moonbow. But though smartphone cameras have come a great distance over simply the previous few years, most smartphone nonetheless can’t seize an ideal picture of the nighttime occasion.

Here are some tips about establishing a digital camera or smartphone to seize pictures of the moonbow:

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
• Start with an publicity of 30 seconds. If the picture is simply too darkish or brilliant, alter the publicity time – however don’t change the opposite settings

Smartphone Camera

• Turn off the digital camera flash
• Attach the smartphone to a sturdy tripod
• Use an app like Camera+
• If potential, set the app to Shutter Priority mode
• Lock the main target within the digital camera app
• Start with the longest publicity potential for the smartphone
• Set a selfie timer to seize the pictures

Have You Seen the Cumberland Falls Moonbow?

If you’ve seen this positively extraordinary pure occasion go away me a remark beneath and inform me all about it! Seeing the Cumberland Falls Moonbow was one of the crucial rewarding experiences all 12 months and that picture has been one in every of my favorites ever since.

Where to Stay

The apparent selection could be to remain on the state park whereas viewing the Moonbow, however if you need a extra snug lodge you’ll must journey again to Corbin, Kentucky. It can be a simple drive, however it would even be late.

Budget

Quality Suites is a reasonably snug budget-friendly lodge situated alongside I-75. The lodge options an out of doors swimming pool and complimentary breakfast. Choose from rooms with two queen beds or a single king mattress.

Red Roof Inn & Suites is a wonderful selection for place to remain. Located alongside I-75, the lodge options inside entry rooms and an out of doors swimming pool. Rooms function renovated fake hardwood flooring and comfy furnishings.

Moderate

Fairfield Inn could be an ideal place to remain in Corbin. An indoor swimming pool and sizzling buffet breakfast will make the keep nice. Choose from rooms with one or two beds, or a room with a sleeper couch.

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 function snug furnishings, free on-site parking, and a variety of facilities.

Camping

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park contains 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 two campgrounds are situated 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 residence leases. You’ll benefit from the nights with a mountaineering path to the lake and outside swimming pool.

Frequently Asked Questions