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Natural Arches in New Mexico

32 natural arches in New Mexico with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. San Juan County has the most (10). The darkest skies are at Needles Eye (Bortle 1).

Top natural arches

Natural Arch
Arch RockSan Juan County
Natural Arch
City of Rocks ArchGrant County
Natural Arch
Cox Canyon ArchSan Juan County
Natural Arch
The Great EyeMcKinley County
Natural Arch
La Ventana Natural ArchCibola County
Natural Arch
Little Needles EyeLuna County
Natural Arch
Natural BridgeLincoln County
Natural Arch
Needles EyeCatron County
Natural Arch
Needles EyeLuna County
Natural Arch
Pierced RockMcKinley County
Natural Arch
PopawiRio Arriba County
Natural Arch
Snake BridgeSan Juan County

Natural Arches by county

All natural arches (32)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Arch RockSan Juan County1,928 mAztec2
City of Rocks ArchGrant County1,610 mHurley2
Cox Canyon ArchSan Juan County1,930 mAztec2
The Great EyeMcKinley County2,299 mNavajo1
La Ventana Natural ArchCibola County2,214 mSkyline-Ganipa2
Little Needles EyeLuna County1,504 mDeming2
Natural BridgeLincoln County1,550 mRoswell1
Needles EyeCatron County1,777 mSilver City1
Needles EyeLuna County2,094 mDeming2
Pierced RockMcKinley County2,107 mBlack Rock2
PopawiRio Arriba County2,124 mSanta Clara Pueblo3
Snake BridgeSan Juan County2,092 mLukachukai1
Soda DamSandoval County1,930 mJemez Pueblo2
Teakettle RockRio Arriba County2,647 mSanta Teresa2
Woodpecker ArchEl MorroCibola County2,239 mBlack Rock1
Red Lake Natural BridgeMcKinley County2,188 mNavajo2
Reserve Natural BridgeCatron County1,798 mSilver City1
Coyote ArchMcKinley County1,903 mTwin Lakes2
Sandstone Bluffs ArchCibola County2,065 mGrants2
Eye of the MoonCibola County1,936 mSkyline-Ganipa2
Cats EyeRio Arriba County2,035 mSanta Teresa2
Phoenix ArchLos Alamos County2,362 mLos Alamos5
Natural BridgeCarlsbad CavernsEddy County1,418 mCarlsbad1
Window RockRio Arriba County1,956 mOhkay Owingeh2
Cicuye ArchSan Miguel County2,231 mPecos2
Outcrop ArchSan Juan County1,941 mAztec3
Little Delicate ArchSan Juan County1,893 mAztec2
Burro Spring BridgeSan Juan County1,854 mAztec2
Crow Canyon ArchSan Juan County1,929 mAztec2
Cutter Lake ArchSan Juan County1,816 mBloomfield2
Gobernador Canyon ArchSan Juan County1,801 mAztec2
Pemada Canyon ArchSan Juan County1,922 mAztec2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph natural arches

Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.

  • Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
  • At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
  • 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.

Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.