El Morro National Monument is a National Monument in New Mexico. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in El Morro
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to El Morro. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Natural Arches (1)
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At El Morro 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:25 PM | 245° | 10h 03m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:22 PM | 5:57 PM | 255° | 10h 56m |
| March | 7:25 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:21 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:42 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:46 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:11 PM | 294° | 14h 00m |
| June | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:30 PM | 300° | 14h 30m |
| July | 6:11 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:29 PM | 297° | 14h 17m |
| August | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:03 PM | 288° | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:22 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:40 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:09 PM | 248° | 10h 20m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 242° | 9h 49m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.0390, -108.3464); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From El Morro, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | 4:51 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.7 | 15° |
| March | 4:05 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 2:05 AM – 5:05 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 12:09 AM – 4:29 AM | 4.3 | 26° |
| June | 10:16 PM – 4:06 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:11 PM – 2:41 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:36 PM – 12:36 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:37 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 8:03 PM – 8:43 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| 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
At an elevation of 7,219 feet (2200 meters) winters can be cold and snowy. Summers are warm with afternoon thunder showers from mid-July through mid-September. Trails can close unexpectedly due to severe weather. Average snowfall: 40 inches per year. Average precipitation (snowmelt and rain): 16 inches per year. Warmest month: July, with average highs of 84 degrees and lows of 52 degrees. Coldest months: December and January, with average lows of 14-15 degrees, and average highs of 44-45 degrees.
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 July 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.
Getting there
From Albuquerque, NM, or from the east: take Interstate 40 west to Grants. At exit 81, go south on Highway 53 for 42 miles to El Morro National Monument. From Flagstaff, AZ, or from the west: take Interstate 40 east to Gallup. At exit 20, go south on Highway 602 for about 31 miles. Turn east (left) onto Highway 53. El Morro is 25 more miles.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- RV Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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