Bald Rock Overlook, Cheaha State Park
Talladega Mountains, Alabama · 2,283 ft
Typical peak
Oct 24 – Nov 1
high confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunset
Classic view faces W (270°)
A bare rock outcrop on the shoulder of Alabama's highest mountain, facing west over the Talladega Valley and national forest. The open ledge gives a foreground the low sun rakes across.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Park at the Bald Rock lot inside Cheaha State Park off AL 281 and walk the 0.3-mile Doug Ghee boardwalk to the outcrop.
What turns here
- hickory
- sourwood
- red maple
- blackgum
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 28Typical color progression for Bald Rock Overlook, Cheaha State Park. No change from Sep 20 to Oct 7. First color from Oct 7 to Oct 16. Approaching peak from Oct 16 to Oct 24. Peak from Oct 24 to Nov 1. Past peak from Nov 1 to Nov 11. Bare from Nov 11 to Nov 25.
Bald Rock Overlook, Cheaha State Park is typically at peak on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
68°F / 43°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Bald Rock Overlook, Cheaha State Park on October 28, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:33 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 105° | 6:58 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 34 min of low, warm light | 7:32 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:27 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 34 min before sunset | 5:21 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 255° | 5:55 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:21 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 10h 57m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Sunset: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Classic composition faces W (270°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.