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Summary

I have never seen a total solar eclipse, so of course, it was on my list of things to do. With my recent interest in practicing my lunar and Milky Way photography skills, I wanted to try photographing the sun. The best time to do that is definitely during a massive event like a total solar eclipse. We also wanted a good reason to rent a van to try out the van life for a long weekend, so this trip seemed the perfect fit.  

The best place to see a total solar eclipse is within the path of totality. I researched as much information as possible to determine the path. NASA was the most reliable source of information. You can see a 2024 Path of Totality map below and where we chose to experience the eclipse. NASA has a great calendar compiled with a ton of information on astronomical events, so if you’re looking for an event to view, I will start my search there. 

The sun is so incredibly bright that if you don’t go to the path of totality, it just looks like a cloudy day or nothing. The graph below shows the coolness based on the location along the eclipse path. I think it does a pretty good job of telling the story.  

How did we pick Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas, as our totality location? Our friend told us they were going to Greers Ferry Lake because they had been there the summer before and really liked it. We initially thought we would go to Hot Springs, NP, but after looking at it, we found the campgrounds were full. Mind you, we were looking 3-4 months in advance, so I’m glad we started planning as soon as possible. The campground our friends were staying in at Greers Ferry Lake was also full, so I booked a different one with a south-facing view across the lake. It was the last open campground in all the campgrounds I looked at!  

Since we booked so far in advance, how did we get so lucky with the weather so we could see the eclipse? It was pure LUCK! As we all know, the mother nature doesn’t care. She does what she needs to keep equilibrium; sometimes, we get lucky. We were prepared to travel if needed but just waited and hoped. The weather forecast did not look promising, and yet we kept with the plan. A major astronomical event might be the only case where the saying “There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather” is wrong because it would have just gotten dark if it had been overly cloudy: we wouldn’t have been able to see the wonder of the total solar eclipse. 

Greers Ferry Lake 

We are thrilled that we decided to tag along with our friends and visit Greers Ferry Lake. The lake is beautiful. Greers Ferry Lake is located in Northern Arkansas. It is actually a reservoir formed by Greers Ferry Dam and is nestled in the Ozark Mountains. Greers Ferry Lake is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and is a national model for environmental cleanliness. USACE has received recognition for its efforts to keep the lake pristine. The water is beautiful and clear, and the lake offers breathtaking views. To enjoy these views, there are multiple recreational opportunities around the lake:   

• Camping: Numerous parks around the lake provide modern camping facilities.  
• Water Sports: Whether you love boating, kayaking, or jet skiing, Greers Ferry Lake has it all.  
• Fishing: The lake offers excellent fishing opportunities year-round.  
• Hiking: Explore the natural beauty of the lake and its surroundings through scenic hiking trails.  

Fun fact about Greers Ferry Lake: In the 19th century, a city named Higden flourished where the lake now rests. Due to frequent flooding, a dam was built for flood control, and today, the city’s remains lie below the lake, attracting scuba divers and archaeologists. 

See Shiloh: A Flood of Memories Under the Water to learn more about one woman’s memories before the lake. 

Highlights

While you’re visiting Greers Ferry Lake, here are a couple of locations you should not miss. Zoom in to see more detail, if necessary.

Highlights of our Trip to Greers Ferry Lake

Our Experience

Greers Ferry Lake 

As noted before, Greers Ferry Lake is beautiful. I love the hills and the water. The hills give plenty of places to overlook the lake and get a panorama of the area. We were here in April, so there was a tremendous amount of pollen in the air from the trees. You could even see the pollen on the surface of the water. Locals told us this was normal and the water would clear up as summer approached. 

When we got to Greers Ferry, the weather forecast was uncertain, so we were unsure where to view the eclipse. We decided to ask around, and it sounded like Sugar Loaf Mountain in the center of the lake would be a great spot. We had hoped that everyone else didn’t think so, too. We called Fairfield Bay Marina, and they had spots on a ferry to the island! We were in luck! Next up, we hoped for minimal clouds so we could actually see it. We were in luck!!!

Our trip to Greers Ferry Lake was short, but we hope to visit again someday to experience it more!

The Van 

One of our goals on the trip was to rent and experience traveling in a van for multiple days. We knew what to expect from our past trips to Iceland and Scotland while camping in converted Land Rover Defenders. The van definitely had more space. After the experience, I’d say that we still can’t make up our minds. We love the idea of van life: its simplicity and ease of getting around while having everything with you. But we also want to haul a trailer for those creature comforts (like a nice bathroom). We’ll see where we end up on this front! 

The app we used to book the van was Outdoorsy, which was very easy to use. Of course, always do your due diligence when renting anything, but the app helps ensure you don’t forget anything and also offers/requires insurance. It did a good job protecting both the renter and the vehicle owner. I’d recommend using it. Let me know what your experience is like!

The Eclipse 

Experiencing the solar eclipse itself was terrific. It looked like there was a 360-degree sunset all around us. The animals and insects got quiet, and the temperature dropped, just like when the sun would go down on a hot summer day. It was an experience that cannot be captured appropriately with a camera because it takes all five senses to appreciate. Below are the different stages of the eclipse and a video showing the 360-degree sunset. We also saw a low-flying military plane, which was a fantastic site.  

It takes special equipment to photograph the sun without hurting yourself. Instead of me trying to explain it, Royal Museums Greenwich does a great job. After all, I had to do some research before taking my first sun photograph, too! 

No matter which resource you use to learn more about photographing the sun, please take all appropriate safety precautions to protect yourself and your camera so you can see and capture future astronomical events. We don’t want your first experience photographing the sun to be your (or your equipment’s) last.

If you liked the video above, there’s an app for that! I use Relive. It makes creating videos of your hikes and travels really easy. If interested, please consider using the link below with my referral code.