Located in Clark County, Nevada, Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 5.1 km (3.2 mi) WNW of Las Vegas.
The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, informally known as the Las Vegas Zoo, was a 3-acre (1.2 ha), nonprofit zoo and botanical garden located in Las Vegas, Nevada that operated from 1981 to September 20, 2013. It was located northwest of the Las Vegas Strip, about 15 minutes away. It focused primarily on the education of desert life and habitat protection. Its mission statement was to "educate and entertain the public by displaying a variety of plants and animals". An admission fee was charged. The park included a small gem exhibit area and a small gift shop at the main exit. The gift shop and admission fees helped support the zoo.From the Wikipedia article “Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park 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 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:45 AM | 90° E | 6:53 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:25 AM | 60° ENE | 8:02 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:29 AM | 89° E | 6:39 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:49 AM | 119° ESE | 4:30 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 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 | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:18 PM | 9h 58m |
| February | 6:03 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 6:27 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:14 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:42 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:41 PM | 13h 07m |
| May | 5:07 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:09 PM | 14h 05m |
| June | 4:53 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:22 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 37m |
| July | 5:06 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:29 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 5:32 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:00 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 5:58 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:16 PM | 6:50 PM | 7:15 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:22 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:06 PM | 6:32 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 5:51 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:56 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:01 PM | 10h 15m |
| December | 6:17 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:25 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:28 PM | 4:57 PM | 9h 43m |
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 Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, 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 8 (city 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 | 4:29 AM – 4:59 AM | 0.5 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:44 AM – 5:24 AM | 1.7 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:36 AM – 4:26 AM | 2.8 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 11:42 PM – 3:52 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:51 PM – 3:31 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:45 PM – 2:05 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:08 PM – 11:58 PM | 2.8 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:17 PM – 9:57 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:32 PM – 8:02 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.29 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (50%). 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 | 72 | 73 | 82 | 89 | 100 | 107 | 106 | 105 | 103 | 91 | 79 | 68 |
| Low °F | 8 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 31 | 38 | 55 | 51 | 37 | 20 | 19 | 11 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 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
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- 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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, closest first.
Botanical Garden
State Park
Waterfall
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
Wilderness AreaCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Red Rock Canyon Campground18.7 km (11.6 mi) · reservable
- Las Vegas Bay Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Las Vegas Bay Campground29 km (18 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park?
What time is golden hour at Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park?
How far is Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park from Las Vegas?
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.