Walnut Canyon National Monument is a National Monument 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 Walnut Canyon
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Walnut Canyon. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Walnut Canyon 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 | 7:35 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:37 PM | 245° | 10h 03m |
| February | 7:13 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:09 PM | 255° | 10h 56m |
| March | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 5:54 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:59 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:24 PM | 294° | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:43 PM | 300° | 14h 31m |
| July | 5:24 AM | 6:00 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:42 PM | 297° | 14h 18m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 288° | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:35 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:52 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:21 PM | 248° | 10h 20m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:16 PM | 242° | 9h 48m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.1682, -111.5024); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Walnut Canyon, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:14 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:18 AM – 5:08 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:18 AM – 4:18 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 11:23 PM – 3:33 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 9:30 PM – 3:20 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 9:26 PM – 1:56 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 8:49 PM – 11:49 PM | 3.0 | 26° |
| September | 8:00 PM – 9:50 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 7:17 PM – 7:57 PM | 0.7 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. You may expect high winds any time of year, summer temperatures above 95ºF (35ºC), afternoon storms July–September, and heavy snow from fall to spring. Dress in layers, as weather at Walnut Canyon can change quickly at any time of year.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (54%). 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Walnut Canyon National Monument is located approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) east of Flagstaff. From Interstate 40, take Exit 204, and turn south. The Walnut Canyon Visitor Center is located at the end of this 3-mile (5 km) road.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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