Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is a National Monument in Nevada. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Tule Springs Fossil Beds 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 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:50 PM | 244° | 9h 57m |
| February | 6:30 AM | 7:06 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:23 PM | 255° | 10h 53m |
| March | 6:53 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:49 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:15 PM | 283° | 13h 07m |
| May | 5:36 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:42 PM | 295° | 14h 06m |
| June | 5:24 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:01 PM | 300° | 14h 38m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:00 PM | 298° | 14h 24m |
| August | 6:00 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:33 PM | 288° | 13h 33m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:16 PM | 6:50 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:49 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:06 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:19 AM | 6:57 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:34 PM | 248° | 10h 15m |
| December | 6:47 AM | 7:26 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:28 PM | 241° | 9h 42m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.3893, -115.3202); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Tule Springs Fossil Beds, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 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 5 (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 | 4:29 AM – 4:59 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 3:45 AM – 5:25 AM | 1.7 | 21° |
| April | 1:36 AM – 4:26 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 11:43 PM – 3:43 AM | 4.0 | 25° |
| June | 9:52 PM – 3:22 AM | 5.5 | 25° |
| July | 9:47 PM – 2:07 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:08 PM – 11:58 PM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:17 PM – 9:57 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:32 PM – 8:02 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
The Tule Springs Fossil Beds is located within the Mojave Desert, with summer temperatures often exceeding 110° F (43.3° C). There are no sources of water or shade at Tule Springs, so it is recommended that you plan your summer visit (May - September) to Tule Springs before the hottest part of the day and exercise caution. Winter temperatures range, on average, from the low 30's F to low 70's F.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (50%). 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
Tule Springs Fossil Beds is an urban National Monument located in the northern Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. Two parking areas are available: N. Aliante Parkway & Moonlight Falls Avenue Parking Area and Durango Drive & Moccasin Road Parking Area.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
AZ/NV
CA
CA
AZ
CA/NV