Catalina State Park — a state park in Pima County, Arizona — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 7.7 km (4.8 mi) NE of Oro Valley.
Catalina State Park is located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It is home to nearly 5,000 saguaros and desert plants. There are 5,500 acres of foothills and canyons that offer opportunities for camping, hiking, and bird watching. The park is home to more than 150 species. At an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet, the park offers miles of trails for recreational use.From the Wikipedia article “Catalina State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Catalina State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:28 AM | 90° E | 6:36 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:18 AM | 61° ENE | 7:35 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 17m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:13 AM | 89° E | 6:22 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:22 AM | 118° ESE | 5:23 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 01m |
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
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 15m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:35 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:57 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:30 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:19 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 49m |
| June | 4:48 AM | 5:17 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:01 PM | 14h 16m |
| July | 5:00 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:00 PM | 14h 05m |
| August | 5:22 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:36 PM | 13h 21m |
| September | 5:44 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:56 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:03 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:17 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 30m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:21 PM | 5:48 PM | 10h 02m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Catalina State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:53 AM – 5:43 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:04 AM – 5:04 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:00 AM – 4:20 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:00 PM – 3:50 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:15 PM – 3:35 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:11 PM – 2:01 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:39 PM – 11:59 PM | 3.3 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 7:54 PM – 10:04 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:14 PM – 8:04 PM | 0.8 | 18° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.8 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 21% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 76 | 83 | 90 | 97 | 106 | 111 | 108 | 107 | 104 | 98 | 89 | 77 |
| Low °F | 18 | 15 | 22 | 32 | 38 | 49 | 64 | 61 | 49 | 30 | 20 | 21 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 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 state park
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Catalina State Park, closest first.
Canyon
Natural Arch
Fire Lookout
Mountain Peak
Wilderness Area
Botanical Garden
Canyon
Scenic Viewpoint
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 215.5 km (9.6 mi) · reservable
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 115.5 km (9.6 mi) · reservable
- Whitetail Campground16.4 km (10.2 mi) · reservable
- Showers Point Group Site17.6 km (10.9 mi) · reservable
- Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin18.0 km (11.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Catalina State Park?
What time is golden hour at Catalina State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Catalina State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Catalina State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Catalina State Park?
How far is Catalina State Park from Oro Valley?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.