Baughman Rock Overlook
Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania · 2,012 ft
Typical peak
Oct 9 – Oct 17
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces E (90°)
A sandstone ledge roughly 780 feet above the Youghiogheny gorge, looking east up-river at Ohiopyle's forested walls. The exposed slab works as foreground and nothing blocks the drop from the lens to the river.
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
From PA 381 in Ohiopyle take Sugarloaf Road two miles to the lot; the overlook is a 75-yard walk on gravel.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red oak
- black gum
- tulip poplar
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 13Typical color progression for Baughman Rock Overlook. No change from Sep 5 to Sep 22. First color from Sep 22 to Oct 1. Approaching peak from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Peak from Oct 9 to Oct 17. Past peak from Oct 17 to Oct 27. Bare from Oct 27 to Nov 10.
Baughman Rock Overlook is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 19
1 night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
63°F / 38°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
Baughman Rock Overlook on October 13, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:58 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 99° | 7:26 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 8:02 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:04 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 6:05 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 6:42 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:09 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 16m · 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: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Classic composition faces E (90°).
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.
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