Chiricahua 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 9 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Chiricahua
We matched 9 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Chiricahua. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (3)
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointWaterfalls (1)
Natural Arches (2)
Canyons (1)
Fire Lookouts (1)
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Chiricahua the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (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 35° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 246° | 10h 17m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:04 PM | 256° | 11h 04m |
| March | 6:28 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:26 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:49 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:47 PM | 282° | 12h 58m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:08 PM | 293° | 13h 47m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:26 PM | 299° | 14h 14m |
| July | 5:23 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 296° | 14h 03m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:03 PM | 287° | 13h 20m |
| September | 6:02 AM | 6:34 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:25 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:21 AM | 6:54 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:46 PM | 260° | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:19 PM | 249° | 10h 32m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:15 PM | 243° | 10h 04m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.0121, -109.3416); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Chiricahua, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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 | 4:46 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 2:57 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 12:52 AM – 4:22 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| May | 10:51 PM – 3:41 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| June | 9:05 PM – 3:25 AM | 6.3 | 29° |
| July | 9:02 PM – 2:02 AM | 5.0 | 29° |
| August | 8:31 PM – 12:01 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| September | 7:47 PM – 9:57 PM | 2.2 | 26° |
| October | 7:07 PM – 7:57 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| 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
The park elevation goes from 5,124 feet at the entrance to 7,310 feet on Sugarloaf Mountain. The top of the park can be 5-10 degrees cooler and windier than the visitor center and entrance. The higher elevations generally have more sun exposure. Clothing layers are always recommended here. The park is often cooler than cities in Arizona with summer highs in the 80s and 90s. Winter lows are often near or below freezing.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). July is the warmest month and December 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
Chiricahua National Monument is in the southeast corner of Arizona. Interstate I10 from LA or Tucson to El Paso or Lordsburg runs about 40 miles north of the park. Exits in Willcox to Hwy 186 are the most direct paved access to the park from the north. (Exits 336, 340, and 344). Note: Exit 366 to Bowie will require driving 10 miles of dirt road. This route is recommended only if stopping at Fort Bowie National Historic Site.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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