Petroglyph 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 Petroglyph
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Petroglyph. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Rock Formations (1)
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Petroglyph 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 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:41 PM | 5:19 PM | 245° | 10h 03m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:50 PM | 255° | 10h 56m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:15 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:40 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 6:04 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:04 PM | 294° | 14h 00m |
| June | 5:53 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 300° | 14h 31m |
| July | 6:05 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:23 PM | 297° | 14h 18m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:57 PM | 288° | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:51 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:16 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:33 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:20 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:02 PM | 248° | 10h 20m |
| December | 7:09 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:57 PM | 242° | 9h 48m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.1392, -106.7491); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Petroglyph, 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 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:55 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:59 AM – 5:49 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:59 AM – 4:59 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 12:04 AM – 4:14 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 10:11 PM – 4:01 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:07 PM – 2:37 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:30 PM – 12:30 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:31 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 7:58 PM – 8:38 PM | 0.7 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Altitude approx. 5000 ft. Usually sunny and dry, with low relative humidity. Winter temperatures range from 40 to 50 degrees F. Summer temperatures range from 88-99 degrees F. 278 days of sunshine per year. Spring can be windy with 20 to 30 mph sustained winds which can produce periods of blowing sand and dust. For current weather forecast, Google Albuquerque weather.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 32% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (52%). 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
GPS: Lat: 35.139 Long: -106.711 From Interstate 40, take the Unser Blvd. exit (#154) proceed north 3 miles to Western Trail. Turn left or west onto Western Trail and follow road to the Information Center parking lot. From Interstate 25, take the Paseo del Norte exit (#232) and proceed west to Coors Road exit south (must be in center lane to veer left at the Y). Proceed south on Coors Road to Western Trail. Turn right or west onto Western Trail and follow road to the Information Center parking lot.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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