Apache Pass is a mountain pass in Cochise County, Arizona at about 1,558 m (5,112 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Fort Bowie National Historic Site, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 35 km (22 mi) ESE of Willcox.
Apache Pass, also known by its earlier Spanish name Puerto del Dado ("Pass of the Die"), is a historic mountain pass in the U.S. state of Arizona between the Dos Cabezas Mountains and Chiricahua Mountains at an elevation of 5,110 feet (1,560 m). It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) east-southeast of Willcox, Arizona, in Cochise County.From the Wikipedia article “Apache Pass”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Apache Pass the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (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) | 6:22 AM | 90° E | 6:30 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:13 AM | 62° ENE | 7:28 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 15m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:07 AM | 89° E | 6:16 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:16 AM | 118° ESE | 5:18 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
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:53 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 16m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:30 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:05 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:51 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:24 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:13 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 4:54 AM | 5:21 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:36 PM | 13h 48m |
| June | 4:44 AM | 5:12 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:55 PM | 14h 15m |
| July | 4:55 AM | 5:23 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:54 PM | 14h 03m |
| August | 5:17 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:29 PM | 13h 20m |
| September | 5:38 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:35 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:50 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 5:57 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:55 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:11 PM | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:22 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:45 PM | 10h 31m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:43 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 Apache Pass, 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:58 AM – 4:58 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:53 AM – 4:13 AM | 3.3 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 10:53 PM – 3:43 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:08 PM – 3:28 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:04 PM – 2:04 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:32 PM – 12:02 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 7:48 PM – 9:58 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:08 PM – 7:58 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.88 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 24% 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 | 74 | 82 | 87 | 96 | 106 | 109 | 111 | 106 | 103 | 96 | 85 | 76 |
| Low °F | 17 | 11 | 21 | 29 | 35 | 48 | 62 | 61 | 46 | 28 | 20 | 19 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
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 mountain pass
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Warm layers, Road-condition 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 Apache Pass, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Waterfall
Natural Arch
Canyon
Dark Sky PlaceScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Fire LookoutCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Apache Pass?
What time is golden hour at Apache Pass?
Where does the sun rise and set at Apache Pass?
Can you see the Milky Way from Apache Pass?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Apache Pass?
How far is Apache Pass from Willcox?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, 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.