Tumacácori National Historical Park is a National Historical Park 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 Tumacácori
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Tumacácori. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Tumacácori 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 299° (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 | 7:25 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:08 PM | 5:44 PM | 246° | 10h 19m |
| February | 7:07 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:12 PM | 256° | 11h 05m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:33 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 5:56 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:53 PM | 282° | 12h 57m |
| May | 5:29 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 293° | 13h 46m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:31 PM | 298° | 14h 12m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:31 PM | 296° | 14h 01m |
| August | 5:50 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:09 PM | 287° | 13h 19m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:32 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 6:28 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:53 PM | 260° | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:26 PM | 249° | 10h 33m |
| December | 7:17 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:23 PM | 243° | 10h 06m |
Computed for the park's reference point (31.5678, -111.0512); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Tumacácori, 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 | 4:53 AM – 5:43 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:03 AM – 5:03 AM | 2.0 | 26° |
| April | 12:58 AM – 4:28 AM | 3.5 | 30° |
| May | 10:57 PM – 3:47 AM | 4.8 | 30° |
| June | 9:10 PM – 3:40 AM | 6.5 | 30° |
| July | 9:07 PM – 2:07 AM | 5.0 | 30° |
| August | 8:36 PM – 12:06 AM | 3.5 | 30° |
| September | 7:53 PM – 10:03 PM | 2.2 | 26° |
| October | 7:14 PM – 8:04 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| 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
Located above the heat of the low desert, Tumacácori National Historical Park is in the mesquite highlands, close to 3,300 feet in elevation, where temperatures are five to ten degrees cooler than Tucson or Phoenix. Visiting the park in this moderate climate is pleasurable during any season of the year but remember to prepare accordingly. Bring layered clothing and drink plenty of water.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 17% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Tumacácori National Historical Park is located off of Exit 29 of Interstate 19, forty-five miles (80 kilometers) south of Tucson, Arizona, and eighteen miles (26 kilometers) north of Nogales, Arizona.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Astronomy
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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