Lindy Point Overlook
Blackwater Canyon, West Virginia · 3,054 ft
A railed rock ledge with a wind-bent pine on the point stands 500 feet above the floor of Blackwater Canyon. Late light runs straight down the canyon to the west and separates the near rim from the ridges stacked behind it.
Typical peak
Oct 8 – Oct 16
Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Best light
Best at sunset
Classic view faces WSW (250°)
Crowds
moderate
Fills up mid-morning. Arriving for first light is usually enough.
Getting there
Follow Canyon Rim Road about 2 miles past the Blackwater Falls lodge to the Lindy Point lot, then walk 0.4 mile of nearly level trail to the platform.
What turns here
- red spruce
- red maple
- yellow birch
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 12Typical color progression for Lindy Point Overlook. No change from Sep 4 to Sep 21. First color from Sep 21 to Sep 30. Approaching peak from Sep 30 to Oct 8. Peak from Oct 8 to Oct 16. Past peak from Oct 16 to Oct 26. Bare from Oct 26 to Nov 9.
Color starts around Sep 21.
Light at peak
Lindy Point Overlook on October 12, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:57 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 99° | 7:24 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 8:00 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:04 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 6:08 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 261° | 6:44 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:11 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 20m · computed from NOAA solar equations
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.
Based on the classic composition here facing WSW (250°).
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.