Molino Canyon is a canyon in Pima County, Arizona. It lies in or next to Saguaro National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Tanque Verde, about 9.1 km (5.7 mi) away (Molino Canyon lies NNE of town).
Molino Canyon is a steep-sided, boulder-strewn canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains northeast of Tucson, Arizona, next to the Molino Basin Campground. The canyon is located within the Coronado National Forest, and encompasses a wide variety of flora and fauna, ranging from lush pine forest in the canyon's upper reaches to Sonoran Desert cactus forest in the lower reaches. Catalina Highway was cut into the western side of the lower part of the canyon. At the bottom of Molino Canyon is Molino Creek, a seasonal stream that flows southwest over large granite outcroppings, forming a series of small waterfalls and pools. Stream-flow is greatest in the spring, as the winter snow melts, and during the monsoon season. The banks of the creek are lined with willow, cottonwood and Arizona sycamore trees. The Molino Canyon Vista is located along Catalina Highway in the transition zone between...From the Wikipedia article “Molino Canyon”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Molino Canyon the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:27 AM | 90° E | 6:35 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:17 AM | 61° ENE | 7:34 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:12 AM | 89° E | 6:21 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:21 AM | 118° ESE | 5:22 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 02m |
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
Canyons need light from above: rims glow at sunrise and sunset, while deep or narrow sections are brightest near midday when reflected light bounces off the walls.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:58 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 16m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:09 PM | 6:34 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:09 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:56 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:29 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:27 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:41 PM | 13h 49m |
| June | 4:48 AM | 5:16 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:00 PM | 14h 16m |
| July | 4:59 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:59 PM | 14h 04m |
| August | 5:22 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 21m |
| September | 5:43 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:40 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:30 PM | 6:55 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:02 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:00 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:16 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 31m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:47 PM | 10h 03m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Molino Canyon, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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 | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:52 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:03 AM – 5:03 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:58 AM – 4:18 AM | 3.3 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 10:58 PM – 3:48 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:13 PM – 3:33 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:09 PM – 2:09 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:37 PM – 12:07 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 7:53 PM – 10:03 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:13 PM – 8:03 PM | 0.8 | 18° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 20.39 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 21% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). 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 | 76 | 83 | 90 | 97 | 106 | 111 | 108 | 107 | 104 | 98 | 89 | 77 |
| Low °F | 18 | 15 | 22 | 32 | 38 | 49 | 64 | 61 | 49 | 30 | 20 | 21 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 |
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 canyon
- A long lens on a tripod handles the low light inside canyons better than raising ISO.
- From the rim, sunrise and sunset side-light reveals layers; a telephoto picks out buttes and shadows.
- In narrow canyons, reflected light creates orange and purple glows; avoid including bright sky in the frame.
- Check flash flood forecasts before entering slot or narrow canyons — rain miles away can flood them.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; summer monsoon storms bring dramatic skies but higher flood risk in the Southwest.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Wide and telephoto lenses, Lens blower, Weather radio or app. 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 Molino Canyon, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallScenic ViewpointWaterfallScenic Viewpoint
Natural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Molino992 m · reservable
- Rose Canyon7.6 km (4.7 mi) · reservable
- Sollers Cabin (Az)9.0 km (5.6 mi) · reservable
- Showers Point Group Site9.3 km (5.8 mi) · reservable
- Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin9.4 km (5.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Molino Canyon?
What time is golden hour at Molino Canyon?
Where does the sun rise and set at Molino Canyon?
Can you see the Milky Way from Molino Canyon?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Molino Canyon?
How far is Molino Canyon from Tanque Verde?
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.