Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a National Monument in Arizona. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Canyon de Chelly
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Canyon de Chelly. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (2)
Natural Arches (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Canyon de Chelly 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 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 | 7:28 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:27 PM | 244° | 9h 58m |
| February | 7:06 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:24 PM | 5:59 PM | 255° | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:29 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:25 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:45 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:51 PM | 283° | 13h 07m |
| May | 6:12 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:17 PM | 295° | 14h 05m |
| June | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:37 PM | 300° | 14h 36m |
| July | 6:12 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:35 PM | 298° | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:36 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:09 PM | 288° | 13h 33m |
| September | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:26 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:25 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:08 PM | 6:43 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:11 PM | 248° | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:22 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:05 PM | 242° | 9h 43m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.1432, -109.3388); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Canyon de Chelly, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:05 AM – 5:35 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 4:20 AM – 6:00 AM | 1.7 | 22° |
| April | 2:12 AM – 5:02 AM | 2.8 | 25° |
| May | 12:18 AM – 4:28 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:27 PM – 4:07 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:21 PM – 2:41 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:34 AM | 2.8 | 25° |
| September | 8:53 PM – 10:33 PM | 1.7 | 22° |
| October | 8:08 PM – 8:38 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Canyon de Chelly's elevation is about 5,500 feet. Spring is cool and windy; highs from 50 to 70; lows of 35 degrees. Expect dust storms and canyon flooding. Summer is hot and dry; highs from 85 to 100; lows of 51 degrees. Drink plenty of water outdoors. Fall is warm and often wet; highs from 60 to 80; lows of 40 degrees. Expect lightning, thunderstorms, and flash floods. Winter is cold and breezy; highs from 40 to 60; lows of 18 degrees. Expect 1-4 inches of snow and freezing nighttime temperatures.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 30% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). 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.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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