Can you see fireworks for July 4 from the Guntersville State Park Lodge?
On Jul 3 2023 we made the last minute decision to head to Guntersville to see the fireworks. Originally we were just going to hit up Civitan Park which is where pretty much everyone said to go see them. But then we thought about trying to go up to the Lodge and watching from there. We weren’t sure if you could actually see them from up there and based on conversations we had with some locals, reactions were mixed. But we figured we’d give it a shot and see. Plus it would give me the opportunity to work on long distance photography at night. I calculated the distance using Google Maps, and it was around 8 miles away from where the fireworks were being shot from. Having to deal with atmospheric conditions was the main concern since it was so hot and there would be heat waves coming from the surface. Plus it was also hazy from the rain conditions too.
The Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge
We had stayed in the park last year at a cabin for Spring Break and it was pretty nice. However we had wanted to try out the lodge and this was a great chance to do it. I called that morning and made a reservation for a 2 queen suite. It’s one of those deals where I wonder how big the rooms will actually be. I was very pleased at the space! It was huge and could have easily fit a family of 6 with no problem.
Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge
Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge - Lobby
We were in Room 152 which was on the right side of the complex and on the very end which meant no neighbors. It also had 2 doors to access the wrap around patio and that was very convenient.
The living area was large and had a small “kitchen” area with a small fridge and microwave. The bedroom was huge with a work desk and tons of room. The bathroom had both a tub/shower combo and a separate stand up shower area as well.
To eat, or not to eat - that is the question.
On check in, I was told the restaurant was closed and wouldn’t be open during our stay and that there was no where to get food while on site. That was a major bummer as the plan was just to hang out there all day. We ended up getting in the car and driving back down the mountain and hunting for something that was open. We drove by the City Harbor marina (like the one being built in Decatur) but it was so full there was no where to park. We ended up at Huddle House which turned out to be not too bad and ate breakfast for dinner. After that we ran by Publix and grabbed some snacks and milk/oj for Amelia. As we were walking out one of the workers gave Amelia a balloon! She was so happy!
We made the trek back up the mountain and got ready to go swimming. The pool was way smaller than the impression I got online but it was zero entry so that was good for Amelia. She had a blast and we played for an hour or so. While we were there there was a family eating at a table with baskets of food and sandwiches and I asked where they got the food from. They said the bar had bar food! If we had been told that, we would have just eaten that because the sandwiches looked great!
After swim time we got cleaned up and relaxed for a bit before getting ready to check out the fireworks. Around 8:30 we headed out to get a spot on the back balcony of the hotel. There were already quite a few folks set up with chairs. We found a spot by the upper “jut out” on the deck and I set up my camera. The amount of bugs flying around was off the charts. There were gigantic lights at ground level below us and that was what was causing the swarming issues. Would have been great if they turned them off, but since the pool is open until 10PM they can’t do that.
The evening was turning out to be really hazy and we thought for sure rain would be coming in. Here’s the nighttime view from where we set up.
The fireworks show started promptly at 9PM to the West and it was a spectacular display for sure! You’re so far away that the sound is delayed by several seconds. It was neat at the end, the explosions kept coming but there was nothing to see. BONUS You can see fireworks in West, North, and East directions leading up to the main show. Based on the cities, distance, and size of the shows we could see, guessing it was Arab, Grant/New Hope, and Scottsboro fireworks shows that all be seen on the horizon. It was really amazing!
HOW I SHOT IT - EQUIPMENT*
*Amazon affiliate links
Camera: Nikon Z6
Lens: Nikon 500mm PF F5.6
Tripod: Manfrotto 190 go!
Bag - Thinktank Streetwalker Rolling Bag/backpack
I also had a second Z6 with a 70-200 2.8, a 24-120 F4, and another tripod because I really had no idea how this was all going to play out since it was our first time. There were quite a few being fired off to the North, but I didn’t want to risk setting another tripod and camera up because it was pretty crowded and there were a fair amount of little kids running around. Just not willing to risk a crash! So I shot all these with this 1 set up.
HOW I SHOT IT- SETTINGS
ISO 100
F stop - 5.6
Shutterspeed - 4 Seconds
Interval timer - 5 seconds
In retrospect, I probably should have shot these at 6 seconds with a 7 second interval to give longer firework trails. I used the interval timer in the camera (1) to reduce camera shake so I never had to press the shutter button, and (2) so I could sit back and actually enjoy the show. If you’ve never tried interval shooting, it’s perfect for things like this! (Also works well when shooting thunderstorms and lighting if you don’t have a lighting sensor for your camera)
The 500mm lens really brings in the action! Even though we were 8 miles away, these final shots are barely cropped, mostly for composition because I only checked the exposures 2x during the 20 minute show and moved the camera a tad both times.
MY TOP SHOTS FROM THE 2023 LAKE GUNTERSVILLE FIREWORKS SHOW
Heading home we saw a deer right on the side of the road. We drove by slowly and Amanda was able to get a photo of him!
CONCLUSION
This quick trip was a fun experience. I’m not sure if I’d actually stay at the lodge again though. Next time we’ll try a chalet and bring our own food to cook. It’s definitely a good spot to view fireworks without having to deal with the large crowds and traffic. One thing that would help would be if the fireworks were shot off on the vicinity of the new City Harbor area.
WHERE SHOULD WE GO NEXT?
We are always on the lookout for new and neat things to see within a 6 hour drive of Decatur, AL. If you’ve got some good spots to visit over a weekend, let me know!
WHAT’S IN MY BAG
When it comes to travelling there are a few things I bring with me on every trip besides just clothes. You can see my full set up in the list below. I encourage everyone to travel with these items as it can save you a lot of headaches and hassle at times!
LUGGAGE - Travel Pro is my go-to brand. I have multiple Travel Pro bags, but the small ones are most useful for me since we take a lot of trips that are 4 days or less. Once you experience the quality of these bags, you’ll never want anything else.
MULTI TOOL - Leatherman Wave - My multitool goes everywhere because you never know when you’ll need it. And it turns out, a lot!
FIRST AID KIT - Coleman Mini Kit - This is the perfect size for keeping in your bag and car in case of the minor boo boo, which happens a lot with kids. It’s cheap and effective.
CHARGING CABLE - Anker 10’ cable for iphones - I like to have a lot of slack because I never know how far away from the outlet I’ll be. I use to use a 6’ , but found sometimes even that wasn’t long enough. The 10’ doesn’t take up much more space and works great.
CHARGING BRICK - Anker Dual Port Charger - This is my go-to travel charger. It’s awesome because you can tie in someone else if needed as well. It’s small and compact.
EARBUDS - Apple Airpods Gen 2 - I still prefer these and love them for listening to podcasts and Youtube on my morning walks/exercise stuff.
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Kyle
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Kyle Root is a published and award winning photographer based out of Decatur Alabama. Working in the area since 1999 has helped him become one of the most recognized photographers and videographers in North Alabama. His work has been featured both locally and on the national stage. Honesty, Integrity, Quality Products, Amazing Customer Service, and just being a nice guy have helped propel him to the spotlight in the North Alabama area as a photographer. If you're looking for professional photography, you're in the right spot.
