Cabrillo National Monument is a National Monument in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 8 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Cabrillo
We matched 8 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Cabrillo. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (5)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointLighthouses (3)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Cabrillo 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 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:52 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:06 PM | 245° | 10h 14m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:35 PM | 256° | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:00 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:57 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:19 PM | 282° | 12h 59m |
| May | 5:51 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:41 PM | 293° | 13h 50m |
| June | 5:42 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:59 PM | 299° | 14h 17m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:58 PM | 296° | 14h 06m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:35 PM | 287° | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:57 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:17 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:55 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:49 PM | 249° | 10h 29m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:45 PM | 243° | 10h 01m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.6723, -117.2416); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cabrillo, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 4:18 AM – 5:08 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 3:29 AM – 5:29 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:25 AM – 4:45 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:26 PM – 4:06 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 9:41 PM – 3:51 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 9:37 PM – 2:27 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 9:05 PM – 12:25 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 8:20 PM – 10:30 PM | 2.2 | 25° |
| October | 7:39 PM – 8:29 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Check the current weather from the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov/. San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 70 °F (21 °C) and low rainfall (9–13 inches [230–330 mm] annually).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (81%). September is the warmest month and February 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $30.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
FROM DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO Take Harbor Drive past the airport Turn left onto Rosecrans Street Turn right onto Canon Street Turn left onto Catalina Blvd. (also known as Cabrillo Memorial Drive) Follow Catalina Blvd. all the way to the end
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
