Natural Arches in Cibola County, NM: 4 Photo Spots

Top 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.