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New Mexico Photography Guide

Southwest · 234 locations

234 photo locations in New Mexico — 32 natural arches, 26 wilderness areas, 21 ghost towns, 20 state parks and more — plus 19 National Park Service sites and golden hour times for 13 cities. Milky Way core season runs February–October (best in June). Aurora needs about Kp 9.0+ in central New Mexico. Wildflowers peak around May.

Photo locations
234
NPS sites
19
Milky Way season
Feb–Oct
Peak bloom
May
Aurora
Kp 9.0+

Top photo locations in New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National ParkCave
Carlsbad Caverns National ParkEddy County
Chaco Culture National Historical ParkDark Sky Place
Chaco Culture National Historical ParkSan Juan County
Lechuguilla CaveCave
Lechuguilla CaveEddy County
Wheeler PeakMountain Peak
Wheeler PeakTaos County · 4,012 m
El Morro National MonumentDark Sky Place
El Morro National MonumentCibola County
Santa RitaGhost Town
Santa RitaGrant County
Carson National ForestNational Forest
Carson National ForestRio Arriba County
Salinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentDark Sky Place
Salinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentTorrance County
Capulin Volcano National MonumentDark Sky Place
Capulin Volcano National MonumentUnion County
DawsonGhost Town
DawsonColfax County
Sitting Bull FallsWaterfall
Sitting Bull FallsEddy County · 1,481 m
Truchas PeakMountain Peak
Truchas PeakRio Arriba County · 3,976 m

Browse by type

Natural Arches32Wilderness Areas26Ghost Towns21State Parks20Hot Springs15Caves14Waterfalls14Mountain Peaks13National Wildlife Refuges10Volcanoes9Mountain Passes9Canyons9Scenic Viewpoints9Dark Sky Places8Rock Formations7Fire Lookouts7National Forests5Botanical Gardens3Lakes2Sand Dunes1

National Park Service sites in New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National ParkNM
Carlsbad Caverns National ParkNational Park
White Sands National ParkNM
White Sands National ParkNational Park
Aztec Ruins National MonumentNM
Aztec Ruins National MonumentNational Monument
Bandelier National MonumentNM
Bandelier National MonumentNational Monument
Capulin Volcano National MonumentNM
Capulin Volcano National MonumentNational Monument
El Malpais National MonumentNM
El Malpais National MonumentNational Monument
El Morro National MonumentNM
El Morro National MonumentNational Monument
NM
Fort Union National MonumentNational Monument
Gila Cliff Dwellings National MonumentNM
Gila Cliff Dwellings National MonumentNational Monument
Petroglyph National MonumentNM
Petroglyph National MonumentNational Monument
Salinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentNM
Salinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentNational Monument
Valles Caldera National PreserveNM
Valles Caldera National PreserveNational Preserve

Golden hour in New Mexico cities

Albuquerque, NMPop. 564,559
Las Cruces, NMPop. 101,643
RR
Rio Rancho, NMPop. 87,521
EH
Enchanted Hills, NMPop. 87,521
Santa Fe, NMPop. 87,505
Roswell, NMPop. 48,544
FA
Farmington, NMPop. 42,871
SV
South Valley, NMPop. 40,976
CL
Clovis, NMPop. 39,480
HO
Hobbs, NMPop. 38,416
AL
Alamogordo, NMPop. 30,753
CA
Carlsbad, NMPop. 28,957

Night sky

Darkest skies in New Mexico

Chaco Culture National Historical ParkDark Sky Place
Chaco Culture National Historical ParkSan Juan County
El Morro National MonumentDark Sky Place
El Morro National MonumentCibola County
Salinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentDark Sky Place
Salinas Pueblo Missions National MonumentTorrance County
Capulin Volcano National MonumentDark Sky Place
Capulin Volcano National MonumentUnion County
Fort Union National MonumentDark Sky Place
Fort Union National MonumentMora County
Clayton Lake State ParkDark Sky Place
Clayton Lake State ParkUnion County

Nature calendars

Scenic byways in New Mexico

Map