Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in New Mexico. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Chaco Culture
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Chaco Culture. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Rock Formations (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Chaco Culture 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 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:21 PM | 244° | 9h 59m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:54 PM | 255° | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:20 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:39 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:11 PM | 294° | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:55 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:31 PM | 300° | 14h 36m |
| July | 6:07 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:30 PM | 298° | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 288° | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:55 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:21 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:37 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:49 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:05 PM | 248° | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:20 PM | 5:00 PM | 242° | 9h 44m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.0396, -107.9560); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Chaco Culture, 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 | 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 4:05 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:06 AM – 5:06 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:12 AM – 4:22 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:21 PM – 4:01 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:15 PM – 2:35 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:38 PM – 12:38 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:28 PM | 1.7 | 22° |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:33 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
Summer highs are typically in the 80s to mid-90s. Thunderstorms can produce heavy localized downpours and sudden dramatic drops in temperatures. Winter temperatures will drop to well below freezing most nights. If you plan to camp in the winter, prepare for nighttime temperatures in the teens or lower. Spring and fall are great times to visit with more moderate temperatures, but unexpected storms can change things dramatically. Monitor local weather forecasts.
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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Your journey into Chaco Canyon will take you through private tribal lands. Please be respectful of our tribal neighbors and their livestock and leave no trace of your journey on their lands. Chaco Canyon is located in northwestern New Mexico. The park can only be accessed by driving on dirt roads. Road conditions can be rough or impassable. Please call in advance for updates.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
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