BNSF priority train enters Abo Canyon on the original AT&SF main. The new track thru the canyon is on the left.
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34.4356° N106.4590° WBortle 2Denver

Abo Canyon Photography Guide

Mountain Pass in Torrance County, New Mexico

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Jerry Huddleston · CC BY 2.0 · source

Abo Canyon is a mountain pass in Torrance County, New Mexico. The nearest town is Jarales, about 34 km (21 mi) away (Abo Canyon lies SE of town).

Abo Canyon (elevation 5771 ft.), also known as Abo Pass, is a canyon situated between the Manzano Mountains to the north and Los Pinos Mountains to the south. It is located in central New Mexico in the Southwest United States.From the Wikipedia article “Abo Canyon”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Jarales
34 km (21 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
October
31% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:59 PM
sunset 6:33 PM

Light at Abo Canyon

Live
Sunrise
7:16 AM
Sunset
6:27 PM
Golden hour AM
7:00 AM – 7:50 AM
Golden hour PM
5:52 PM – 6:42 PM
Blue hour AM
6:51 AM – 7:00 AM
Blue hour PM
6:42 PM – 6:52 PM
Full darkness
7:50 PM – 5:53 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:27 PM / 1:37 AM
Day length
11h 11m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Abo 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:10 AM90° E7:18 PM271° W55°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:55 AM61° ENE8:22 PM300° WNW79°14h 28m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:55 AM89° E7:04 PM271° W56°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:09 AM118° ESE5:00 PM242° WSW32°9h 51m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:45 AM7:13 AM7:50 AM4:41 PM5:19 PM5:46 PM10h 06m
February6:26 AM6:52 AM7:27 AM5:15 PM5:50 PM6:15 PM10h 58m
March6:52 AM7:17 AM7:51 AM6:41 PM7:14 PM7:39 PM11h 57m
April6:09 AM6:35 AM7:09 AM7:04 PM7:38 PM8:04 PM13h 03m
May5:37 AM6:04 AM6:40 AM7:26 PM8:02 PM8:30 PM13h 57m
June5:24 AM5:54 AM6:31 AM7:43 PM8:21 PM8:50 PM14h 27m
July5:36 AM6:05 AM6:42 AM7:43 PM8:20 PM8:48 PM14h 14m
August6:01 AM6:28 AM7:02 AM7:21 PM7:55 PM8:21 PM13h 27m
September6:25 AM6:50 AM7:23 AM6:41 PM7:14 PM7:39 PM12h 24m
October6:47 AM7:12 AM7:46 AM5:59 PM6:33 PM6:58 PM11h 21m
November6:13 AM6:40 AM7:17 AM4:26 PM5:03 PM5:29 PM10h 23m
December6:38 AM7:06 AM7:44 AM4:19 PM4:58 PM5:26 PM9h 52m

Local time (America/Denver), 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 Abo Canyon, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:44 AM – 5:24 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:58 AM – 5:48 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April1:56 AM – 4:56 AM3.026°SE → S
May12:00 AM – 4:20 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June10:06 PM – 4:06 AM6.027°SE → SW
July10:02 PM – 2:42 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August9:27 PM – 12:37 AM3.227°S → SW
September8:39 PM – 10:29 PM1.823°SSW → SW
October7:56 PM – 8:36 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.74 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 31% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (51%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F64717985971021019693867364
Low °F1-41320263952493416154
Precip. (in)0.60.50.50.60.70.82.41.91.71.10.60.6

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.

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Abo Canyon?
October has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.
What time is golden hour at Abo Canyon?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:59 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:33 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:46 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Abo Canyon?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Abo Canyon?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Abo Canyon?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Abo Canyon from Jarales?
About 34 km (21 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.