Coronado National Memorial is a National Memorial in Arizona. 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 Coronado
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Coronado. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Coronado the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:41 PM | 246° | 10h 20m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:09 PM | 256° | 11h 05m |
| March | 6:32 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:30 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 5:53 AM | 6:26 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:50 PM | 282° | 12h 56m |
| May | 5:26 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:11 PM | 293° | 13h 45m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:28 PM | 298° | 14h 11m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:27 PM | 296° | 14h 00m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:05 PM | 287° | 13h 18m |
| September | 6:06 AM | 6:38 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:28 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 6:25 AM | 6:57 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:50 PM | 261° | 11h 26m |
| November | 6:49 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:24 PM | 249° | 10h 34m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:21 PM | 243° | 10h 07m |
Computed for the park's reference point (31.3490, -110.2562); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Coronado, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 30° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:50 AM – 5:40 AM | 0.8 | 19° |
| March | 3:00 AM – 5:00 AM | 2.0 | 26° |
| April | 12:54 AM – 4:24 AM | 3.5 | 30° |
| May | 10:53 PM – 3:43 AM | 4.8 | 30° |
| June | 9:06 PM – 3:36 AM | 6.5 | 30° |
| July | 9:03 PM – 2:03 AM | 5.0 | 30° |
| August | 8:33 PM – 12:03 AM | 3.5 | 30° |
| September | 7:50 PM – 10:00 PM | 2.2 | 27° |
| October | 7:11 PM – 8:11 PM | 1.0 | 19° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Though the park shares a border with our southern neighbors, the elevation and the mountain ecosystem keep Coronado National Memorial relatively cool in the summer, and winter can bring snow. Summers are warm, with daytime temps in the 90s F (32-37 C) and low humidity in May, June, and July. The summer rainy season (monsoon) is between late June and early September. Monsoon thunderstorms can cause flash floods. Winter temps can fall below freezing at night, with highs 40-60 F (4-15 C).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 20% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (62%). June 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
From the city of Sierra Vista continue south on Hwy 92 about 20 miles and turn right onto S. Coronado Memorial Drive. Follow Coronado Memorial Drive (it will turn into E Montezuma Canyon Rd) 5 miles to the Visitor Center.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Caving
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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