Aztec Ruins National Monument is a National Monument in New Mexico. 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 Aztec Ruins 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 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 244° | 9h 55m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:53 PM | 255° | 10h 51m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:39 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:47 PM | 283° | 13h 08m |
| May | 6:05 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:13 PM | 295° | 14h 08m |
| June | 5:53 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:33 PM | 301° | 14h 40m |
| July | 6:05 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:32 PM | 298° | 14h 27m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 288° | 13h 35m |
| September | 6:55 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:37 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:51 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:04 PM | 247° | 10h 13m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:58 PM | 241° | 9h 39m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.8368, -107.9999); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Aztec Ruins, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 4:16 AM – 5:56 AM | 1.7 | 21° |
| April | 2:08 AM – 4:58 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 12:15 AM – 4:15 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:25 PM – 3:55 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:19 PM – 2:29 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:40 PM – 12:30 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:29 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:33 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Summer High temperatures range between 80°F and 99°F degrees with a few days over 100°F. Afternoon thunderstorms usually cool things down in late July and August. Fall Usually pleasant, with mild days and crisp nights. Winter Daytime temperatures range between 20°F and 50°F with cold nights that can reach 0°F. Snow is periodic, but accumulations are typically only 1-2 inches. Spring Weather is especially unpredictable: it can be windy, cold, and wet, or still, warm, and dry.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 31% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (55%). 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
From Albuquerque/Bloomfield, NM: Follow Hwy 550 north into Aztec, turn left onto Highway 516, drive 3/4 mile, then turn right onto Ruins Road. Follow Ruins Road 1/2 mile to the monument. From Durango, CO: Follow Hwy 550 south into Aztec, where it will become 516. Turn right onto Ruins Road. Follow Ruins Road 1/2 mile to the monument. From Farmington, NM Follow Highway 516 east into Aztec. 1/4 mile past Lightplant Road, turn left onto Ruins Road. Follow Ruins Road 1/2 mile to the monument.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
CO
CO
NM
CO/UT
AZ
NM