Located in Mesa County, Colorado, Window Rock is a natural arch at about 1,697 m (5,568 ft) above sea level. It lies in or next to Colorado National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 5.9 km (3.7 mi) S of Fruita.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Window Rock the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:19 AM | 90° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 59° ENE | 8:45 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 55m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:03 AM | 89° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:31 AM | 120° ESE | 4:56 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 25m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:04 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:46 PM | 9h 43m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:20 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:01 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:52 PM | 14h 19m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:29 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:43 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:41 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 39m |
| August | 6:00 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:58 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:38 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:31 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:24 PM | 9h 26m |
Local time (America/Denver), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Window Rock, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:22 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:31 AM – 5:51 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:27 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:29 AM – 4:09 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:42 PM – 3:42 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:35 PM – 2:25 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:51 PM – 12:21 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:56 PM – 10:16 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:16 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.58 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 56 | 59 | 73 | 82 | 96 | 100 | 102 | 98 | 95 | 85 | 69 | 54 |
| Low °F | -11 | -13 | 2 | 17 | 21 | 33 | 44 | 43 | 30 | 6 | -5 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this natural arch
- Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
- Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
- Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.
- Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
Suggested gear: Ultra-wide lens, Tripod, Headlamp, Plenty of water. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Window Rock, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Rock FormationScenic Viewpoint
CanyonScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Saddlehorn Campground612 m · reservable
- North Fruita Desert Campground25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Knowles Overlook Campground26 km (16 mi)
- Jouflas Campground27 km (17 mi)
- Rabbit Valley27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Window Rock?
What time is golden hour at Window Rock?
Where does the sun rise and set at Window Rock?
Can you see the Milky Way from Window Rock?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Window Rock?
How far is Window Rock from Fruita?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.