Practically 100 individuals crowded the Higher Overlook, eagerly gazing into the darkish abyss above the thundering waterfall searching for a touch of a lunar rainbow. It was a wonderfully clear night time 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 digital camera’s shutter clicked. The intense LCD got here to life. There was the picture of a superb 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 little thing you must know to plan one of the best journey.
What’s a Moonbow?
The primary time I visited Cumberland Falls State Resort Park it was overcast and dreary. But it surely was my first time, so I parked the automotive and walked the brief 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 might change every little thing. “Are you coming again 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. Right here’s the way it all works collectively:
A full moon will replicate about 13% of the solar’s mild again to Earth. That’s concerning the minimal quantity of sunshine required for a moonbow to look.
As a result of the total depth of the total 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.
Lastly, the moonlight requires lots 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 should not sufficient water droplets within the air. Huge, churning waterfalls that kick up a visual mist through the day are finest.
Taking all these into consideration, Cumberland Falls in Kentucky is likely one of 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 most effective time is the night time of the total moon, however anytime inside two days earlier than or after will also be nice occasions to see it. Plan one of the best time every night time to reach to make sure you have most moonlight for the moonbow.
Listed below are the Cumberland Falls Moonbow dates in 2023:
Dates in daring are the total moon
January
| Wednesday, January 4 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, January 5 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Friday, January 6 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, January 7 | 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, January 8 | 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. |
February
| Friday, February 3 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, February 4 | 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, February 5 | 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. |
| Monday, February 6 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, February 7 | 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
March
| Sunday, March 5 | 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| Monday, March 6 | 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, March 7 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, March 8 | 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. |
| Thursday, March 9 | 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
April
| Tuesday, April 4 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, April 5 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Thursday, April 6 | 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
| Friday, April 7 | 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. |
| Saturday, April 8 | 1:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. |
Might
| Wednesday, Might 3 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, Might 4 | 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. |
| Friday, Might 5 | 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
| Saturday, Might 6 | 1:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. |
| Sunday, Might 7 | 2:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. |
June
| Thursday, June 1 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Friday, June 2 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Saturday, June 3 | 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
| Sunday, June 4 | 12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. |
| Monday, June 5 | 1:30 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. |
July
| Saturday, July 1 | 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 2 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Monday, July 3 | 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. |
| Tuesday, July 4 | 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, July 5 | 12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. |
August
| Sunday, July 30 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Monday, July 31 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Tuesday, August 1 | 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, August 2 | 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
| Thursday, August 3 | 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. |
| Monday, August 28 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, August 29 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, August 30 | 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. |
| Thursday, August 31 | 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
| Friday, September 1 | 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. |
September
| Wednesday, September 27 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, September 28 | 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. |
| Friday, September 29 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
| Saturday, September 30 | 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. |
| Sunday, October 1 | 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
October
| Thursday, October 26 | 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| Friday, October 27 | 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 28 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 29 | 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. |
| Monday, October 30 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
November
| Saturday, November 25 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, November 26 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Monday, November 27 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, November 28 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, November 29 | 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
December
| Sunday, December 24 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Monday, December 25 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, December 26 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, December 27 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, December 28 | 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.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 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 simple to search out alongside KY Freeway 90 – it’s solely a few 20-minute drive from I-75. However it is going to 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 looks like a tunnel on a carnival experience.
There may be loads of parking on the customer middle beside the river. However on the night time 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 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 Meridian Passing 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.
Finest Place to See the Cumberland Falls Moonbow
After discovering parking, head towards the customer middle. There isn’t any admission price for seeing the moonbow, however you’ll have to cross via the customer middle complicated to succeed in the waterfall.
The most effective 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 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.
Finest Time to See the Moonbow
Is a full moon approaching? Will it’s a cloudless night time? Is that waterfall churning? Even when all these circumstances are met, you continue to have to 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 wish to wait not less than an hour after sundown. That’s simple 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 most effective time to see the moonbow is about two hours after moonrise. However plan to remain not less than two hours. In the course of the summer time months, the moon doesn’t rise as excessive within the sky, so it takes longer for the moonlight to get above the encircling bushes. In the summertime months, it may be mandatory to remain 5 or 6 hours to see one of the best moonbow
Ideas for a Implausible Expertise
Listed below are just a few suggestions 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 one of the best 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. Attempt going a day or two earlier than the total moon, slightly 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 snug.
- 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 middle car parking zone alongside the Cumberland Falls Path.
Images Ideas 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 type 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 incredible picture of the nighttime occasion.
Listed below are some recommendations on establishing 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 picture is simply too darkish or shiny, alter 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 doable, set the app to Shutter Precedence mode
- Lock the main focus within the digital camera app
- Begin with the longest publicity doable for the smartphone
- Set a selfie timer to seize the photographs
Have You Seen the Cumberland Falls Moonbow?
If you happen to’ve seen this totally extraordinary pure occasion depart me a remark beneath and inform me all about it! Seeing the Cumberland Falls Moonbow was one of the rewarding experiences all 12 months and that picture has been one in all my favorites ever since.
The place to Keep
The apparent alternative can be to remain on the state park whereas viewing the Moonbow, however if you would like a extra snug lodge you’ll should journey again to Corbin, Kentucky. It will likely be a simple drive, however it is going to even be late.
Finances
High quality Suites is a reasonably snug budget-friendly lodge positioned alongside I-75. The lodge options an out of doors swimming pool and complimentary breakfast. Select from rooms with two queen beds or a single king mattress.
Pink Roof Inn & Suites is a wonderful alternative for place to remain. Situated alongside I-75, the lodge options inside entry rooms and an out of doors swimming pool. Rooms function renovated fake hardwood flooring and cozy furnishings.
Reasonable
Fairfield Inn can be an incredible place to remain in Corbin. An indoor swimming pool and sizzling buffet breakfast will make the keep nice. Select from rooms with one or two beds, or a room with a sleeper couch.
The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Lodge incorporates a dozen forms 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 spread of facilities.
Tenting
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park contains two campgrounds with a complete of fifty campsites. 21 campsites have electrical hookups whereas water is offered for all of the websites. The 2 campgrounds are positioned alongside the river with spectacular views.
Corbin/Laurel Lake KOA can be an incredible place to spend just a few nights. The property options massive RV websites, tent websites, and tiny dwelling leases. You’ll benefit from the nights with a climbing path to the lake and outside swimming pool.
Incessantly 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 night time and many water droplets within the air.
Moonbows can seem anyplace a strong waterfall has clear sky overhead. Among the hottest locations for a moonbow in the USA is Niagara Falls, Yosemite Falls, and Cumberland Falls. Victoria Falls in Africa is likely one of the finest locations to see a moonbow on the earth.
A moonbow seems like a faint rainbow with the total spectrum of colour mirrored in water droplets.
You may see moonbows two days earlier than and after a full moon every month. Nevertheless, the spring months are one of the best time of 12 months to see the moonbow.