Located in Clark County, Nevada, Alan Bible Visitor Center is a botanical garden. It lies in or next to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Boulder City, about 4.7 km (2.9 mi) away (Alan Bible Visitor Center lies NE of town).
The Alan Bible Visitor Center is a visitor center located at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The visitor center features a 20-minute movie about the recreation area. There is also an array of exhibits, a gift shop, and a desert botanical garden. It was completed around 1966. It is named in honor of Senator Alan Bible (1909–1988) who worked with park service officials.From the Wikipedia article “Alan Bible Visitor Center”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Alan Bible Visitor Center the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:44 AM | 90° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:24 AM | 60° ENE | 8:00 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:28 AM | 89° E | 6:38 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:47 AM | 119° ESE | 4:29 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 42m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:17 PM | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:01 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:47 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:13 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:40 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:13 PM | 7:39 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:06 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:07 PM | 14h 04m |
| June | 4:53 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:01 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:29 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:05 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:26 PM | 14h 22m |
| August | 5:31 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:34 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:58 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 5:57 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:56 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:14 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:21 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:30 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 5:49 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:54 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:33 PM | 5:00 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 6:15 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:56 PM | 9h 44m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Alan Bible Visitor Center, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:27 AM – 4:57 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:32 AM – 5:22 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:33 AM – 4:33 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 11:39 PM – 3:49 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:48 PM – 3:28 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:42 PM – 2:02 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:05 PM – 12:05 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:14 PM – 9:54 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.76 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 22% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (48%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 79 | 80 | 90 | 99 | 109 | 116 | 116 | 115 | 113 | 100 | 89 | 75 |
| Low °F | 20 | 21 | 26 | 33 | 39 | 51 | 68 | 62 | 47 | 29 | 23 | 21 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Alan Bible Visitor Center, closest first.
Beach
Hot SpringHot SpringHot Spring
Scenic ViewpointHot SpringHot Spring
Natural ArchHot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Lake Mead Rv Village2.8 km (1.7 mi)
- Boulder Beach Group Campsites3.0 km (1.8 mi) · reservable
- Boulder Beach Campground3.0 km (1.9 mi) · reservable
- Las Vegas Bay Campground14.8 km (9.2 mi)
- Las Vegas Bay Campground14.8 km (9.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Alan Bible Visitor Center?
What time is golden hour at Alan Bible Visitor Center?
Where does the sun rise and set at Alan Bible Visitor Center?
Can you see the Milky Way from Alan Bible Visitor Center?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Alan Bible Visitor Center?
How far is Alan Bible Visitor Center from Boulder City?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.