Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is a National Monument in Texas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Alibates Flint Quarries 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:56 AM | 8:34 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:57 PM | 245° | 10h 01m |
| February | 7:34 AM | 8:10 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:29 PM | 255° | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:58 AM | 8:32 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:55 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 7:15 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:20 PM | 283° | 13h 05m |
| May | 6:43 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:45 PM | 294° | 14h 02m |
| June | 6:31 AM | 7:09 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:05 PM | 300° | 14h 33m |
| July | 6:43 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:03 PM | 298° | 14h 20m |
| August | 7:07 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:38 PM | 288° | 13h 31m |
| September | 7:30 AM | 8:04 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:55 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:54 AM | 8:28 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:13 PM | 260° | 11h 19m |
| November | 7:23 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:41 PM | 248° | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:50 AM | 8:29 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:36 PM | 242° | 9h 46m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.5820, -101.6717); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Alibates Flint Quarries, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:35 AM – 6:05 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 4:40 AM – 6:30 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:40 AM – 5:40 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:45 AM – 4:55 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 10:53 PM – 4:43 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:48 PM – 3:18 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 10:11 PM – 1:11 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 9:22 PM – 11:12 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 8:38 PM – 9:08 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
The Texas Panhandle experiences a wide variety of weather conditions throughout the year. Winters are cold and windy, and summers are hot and dry. It is usually a good idea to bring a jacket with you if you are planning on hiking to the quarries with a ranger because the mesa gets very windy, even in the summer.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. 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.
Getting there
Alibates Flint Quarries is located approximately 35 miles north of Amarillo, Texas. From I-40 in Amarillo, take Lakeside exit north towards Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. Exit on TX 136 north towards Borger. After about 30 miles, turn west from TX 136 onto Cas Johnson Road. Park Service signs will be visible. Proceed approximately 3 miles to "Y" intersection and bear to right. Go northwest approximately 2 miles to the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Visitor Center.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Camping
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
