How to See the Moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Kentucky in 2024 - Road Trips & Coffee Travel Blog (2024)

Nearly a hundred people crowded the Upper Overlook, eagerly gazing into the dark abyss above the thundering waterfall looking for a hint of a lunar rainbow. It was a perfectly clear night with twinkling stars above and the moonlight was beaming brightly. Somewhere in the mist above Cumberland Falls, I could see the faint moonbow.

And then my camera’s shutter clicked. The bright LCD came to life. There was the photo of a brilliant lunar rainbow reflecting in the water droplets in the air.

It was the first time I’d seen the Cumberland Falls moonbow in Kentucky. And years later, it’s still something I think about every month. If you want to witness this phenomenal natural event, here is everything you need to know to plan the best trip.

Cumberland Falls Map

How to use this map: Zoom out to see more lodging options. Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the (very faint) star at the end of the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.

What is a Moonbow?

A “moonbow” is a naturally occurring event when moonlight is reflected off water droplets in the air around a waterfall and creates a colorful lunar rainbow.

Moonbows are rare because it requires three elements working in concert:

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

How a Moonbow Works

A full moon will reflect about 13% of the Sun’s light back to Earth. This is just enough light to create a lunar rainbow in the heavy mists at the base of a churning waterfall.

But it must be a cloudless night – even faint, wispy clouds are enough to prevent the moonbow from appearing.

So, if a churning waterfall has a clear line of sight to the sky when the full moon rises on a cloudless night, the conditions are perfect for witnessing a spectacular moonbow.

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

Best Time to See the Moonbow

Choosing the best time to see the Moonbow is tricky. It’s not like buying tickets to a movie with a set start time. It’s more like trying to arrive at a baseball game just in time for the seventh inning stretch.

The first thing you need to understand about the Moonbow are two terms you’ll see the calendars below.

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

Astronomical Twilight: The time before sunrise and after sunset when the fading sunlight in the sky gives way to a dark sky. The end of astronomical twilight is the best time to see the moonbow because the sky is dark enough for stars to appear.

With these terms in mind, here’s how you choose the best time to see the Moonbow:

• Two days before or after the full moon
• Arrive about half an hour after the end of astronomical twilight -or- two hours after moonrise, whichever is later
• Leave before zenith
• Expect to stay 2-3 hours to see the Moonbow

The earliest you should attempt to view the moonbow is about half an hour after the end of astronomical twilight. This is about two hours after sunset. Winter sunsets are early. But in the summer, astronomical twilight won’t end until almost midnight.

Did you know a full moon rises at sunset? The moon rises about half an hour earlier each day before the full moon and half an hour later after the full moon. This means the best time to see the moon changes by about half an hour each day. And it’s better to see the Moonbow earlier than later – on or before the full moon.

It takes about 2-3 hours after moonrise for the Moon to rise high enough in the sky for the reflected sunlight to strike Cumberland Falls. If you arrive earlier, you might see the moonbow – but it won’t be as bright as later.

The latest you should attempt to view the moonbow is about half an hour after zenith. Once the Moon reaches the highest point in the sky for the night, it quickly descends into the forest surrounding the waterfall.

The best time to see the moonbow is from half an hour after the end of astronomical twilight until half an hour after zenith when the Moon reaches the highest point in the sky.

Cumberland Falls Moonbow Dates in 2024

Are you ready to see the spectacular moonbow? Use these charts to plan your trip to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Keep track of the upcoming schedule with this Google Calendar with all of the dates listed below.

Dates in bold are the full moon.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Getting to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

I returned to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park a year after learning about the moonbow. I was staying at a cabin in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation about 45 minutes away. For months I had planned to see the moonbow – the time was finally approaching.

The park is hidden, but easy to find along KY Highway 90 – it’s only about a 20-minute drive from I-75. But it will feel like much longer on the winding, two-lane highway. It’s a scenic drive during daylight hours, but at night it feels like a tunnel on a carnival ride.

There is plenty of parking at the visitor center beside the river. But on the night of a moonbow, particularly if the conditions are favorable, the parking lot frequently fills up. If the parking lot is full, try parking at the picnic area across the road – but be careful walking across the road at night!

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 arrive at the park about 3 hours before the Zenith Time – see the chart above – to guarantee a parking space. Looking for something to do while waiting for the moonbow? Bring a folding chair and walk about ten minutes on the Moonbow Trail to a beach area beside the river.

Best Place to See the Cumberland Falls Moonbow

After finding parking, head toward the visitor center. There is no admission fee for seeing the moonbow, but you’ll need to pass through the visitor center complex to reach the waterfall.

The best place to see the Cumberland Falls moonbow is the Upper Overlook. It’s less than a five-minute walk along a paved path from the visitor center. The overlook is situated at the top of the waterfall just feet from the churning water. Metal rails cemented into the exposed rocks keeps people a safe distance away from the turbulent water.

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

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

Tips for a Fantastic Experience

Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your trip to witness the Cumberland Falls Moonbow.

• Arrive early. You won’t be able to see the best effect of the moonbow until about an hour or two after sunset, but I would still recommend arriving early to snag a parking spot.
• Don’t wait until the last day. There is a five-day window each month to see the moonbow. Try going a day or two before the full moon, rather than waiting until a day or two after.
• Bring a flashlight or headlamp. For obvious reasons there are no street lamps or lighting around the Upper Overlook. But be careful not to shine the line in anyone’s face or toward any cameras.
• Bring a chair, snacks, maybe a blanket, and get comfortable.
• For the best experience book a couple of nights at DuPont Lodge in the park. It’s just a 0.5-mile hike from the lodge to the visitor center parking lot along the Cumberland Falls Trail.

Photography Tips for Capturing the Moonbow

A mirrorless or bridge camera or a smartphone with the ability to manually control the settings is the best kind of camera for capturing photos of the moonbow. But although smartphone cameras have come a long way over just the past few years, most smartphone still cannot capture a great photo of the nighttime event.

Here are some tips on setting up a camera or smartphone to capture photos of the moonbow:

Digital Camera

• Set the camera on a sturdy tripod
• Use a remote shutter release or smartphone app to trigger the camera
• Set the ISO to 800-1600
• Set the aperture to f/5.6, f/4, or f/2.8
• Start with an exposure of 30 seconds. If the photo is too dark or bright, adjust the exposure time – but do not change the other settings

Smartphone Camera

• Turn off the camera flash
• Attach the smartphone to a sturdy tripod
• Use an app like Camera+
• If possible, set the app to Shutter Priority mode
• Lock the focus in the camera app
• Start with the longest exposure possible for the smartphone
• Set a selfie timer to capture the photos

Where to Stay

The obvious choice would be to stay at the state park while viewing the Moonbow, but if you want a more comfortable hotel you’ll have to travel back to Corbin, Kentucky. It will be an easy drive, but it will also be late.

Quality Suites is a moderately comfortable budget-friendly hotel located along I-75. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and complimentary breakfast. Choose from rooms with two queen beds or a single king bed.

Red Roof Inn & Suites is an excellent choice for place to stay. Located along I-75, the hotel features interior access rooms and an outdoor swimming pool. Rooms feature renovated faux hardwood floors and comfortable furnishings.

The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Lodge features a dozen types of rooms ranging from a single bed to a two-bedroom suite in a cottage. The rooms feature comfortable furnishings, free on-site parking, and a range of amenities.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park includes two campgrounds with a total of 50 campsites. 21 campsites have electric hookups while water is available for all the sites. The two campgrounds are located along the river with spectacular views.

Corbin/Laurel Lake KOA would be a great place to spend a few nights. The property features large RV sites, tent sites, and tiny home rentals. You’ll enjoy the nights with a hiking trail to the lake and outdoor swimming pool.

Frequently Asked Questions