After dark at the campground in Fenton Lake State Park, New Mexico.
  1. Home
  2. State Parks
  3. New Mexico
  4. Fenton Lake State Park
35.8825° N106.7260° WBortle 2Denver

Fenton Lake State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Sandoval County, New Mexico

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: John Fowler (away) from Placitas, NM, USA · CC BY 2.0 · source

Fenton Lake State Park is a state park in Sandoval County, New Mexico. It sits roughly 30 km (19 mi) N of Jemez Pueblo.

Fenton Lake State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, located 33 miles (53 km) north of San Ysidro, in the Jemez Mountains. The 37-acre (15 ha) lake is a popular fishing destination.From the Wikipedia article “Fenton Lake State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Jemez Pueblo
30 km (19 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
October
32% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:58 PM
sunset 6:32 PM

Light at Fenton Lake State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:19 AM
Sunset
6:26 PM
Golden hour AM
7:03 AM – 7:53 AM
Golden hour PM
5:51 PM – 6:42 PM
Blue hour AM
6:53 AM – 7:03 AM
Blue hour PM
6:42 PM – 6:52 PM
Full darkness
7:51 PM – 5:54 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:30 PM / 1:35 AM
Day length
11h 07m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Fenton Lake State Park 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 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:11 AM90° E7:19 PM271° W54°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:52 AM60° ENE8:27 PM300° WNW78°14h 36m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:56 AM89° E7:05 PM271° W54°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:14 AM119° ESE4:57 PM241° WSW31°9h 43m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:49 AM7:17 AM7:56 AM4:38 PM5:17 PM5:45 PM10h 00m
February6:29 AM6:55 AM7:30 AM5:14 PM5:49 PM6:15 PM10h 54m
March6:53 AM7:19 AM7:52 AM6:41 PM7:15 PM7:40 PM11h 56m
April6:08 AM6:35 AM7:09 AM7:06 PM7:40 PM8:07 PM13h 06m
May5:34 AM6:02 AM6:39 AM7:30 PM8:06 PM8:34 PM14h 04m
June5:21 AM5:51 AM6:29 AM7:48 PM8:26 PM8:56 PM14h 35m
July5:33 AM6:03 AM6:40 AM7:47 PM8:24 PM8:54 PM14h 22m
August5:59 AM6:26 AM7:01 AM7:23 PM7:58 PM8:25 PM13h 32m
September6:25 AM6:50 AM7:24 AM6:42 PM7:16 PM7:41 PM12h 25m
October6:48 AM7:14 AM7:49 AM5:58 PM6:32 PM6:58 PM11h 18m
November6:17 AM6:44 AM7:21 AM4:24 PM5:01 PM5:28 PM10h 17m
December6:42 AM7:11 AM7:50 AM4:16 PM4:55 PM5:24 PM9h 44m

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 Fenton Lake State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:55 AM – 5:25 AM0.515°SE → SE
March4:00 AM – 5:50 AM1.822°SE → SSE
April2:01 AM – 5:01 AM3.025°SE → S
May12:07 AM – 4:17 AM4.225°SE → SSW
June10:16 PM – 3:56 AM5.725°SE → SW
July10:10 PM – 2:30 AM4.325°SSE → SW
August9:33 PM – 12:33 AM3.025°S → SW
September8:43 PM – 10:23 PM1.722°SSW → SW
October7:58 PM – 8:28 PM0.515°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.75 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 32% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (52%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F65707986971031029896867364
Low °F0-31320253852483118114
Precip. (in)0.70.70.70.70.70.72.41.91.71.20.71.0

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

  • Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
  • Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
  • 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.
  • Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.

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 Fenton Lake State Park, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Jemez Canyon Overlook9.2 km away · Sandoval County · 2,490 m
Hot Spring
Spence Hot Spring9.5 km away · Sandoval County
Hot Spring
San Antonio Hot Spring9.5 km away · Sandoval County
Cave
Hot Springs Cave11 km away · Sandoval County
Natural Arch
Soda Dam11 km away · Sandoval County
Hot Spring
Jemez Hot Springs13 km away · Sandoval County
Jemez FallsWaterfall
Jemez Falls14 km away · Sandoval County · 2,374 m
Valles Caldera National PreserveDark Sky Place
Valles Caldera National Preserve14 km away · Sandoval County
Volcano
Valles Caldera16 km away · Sandoval County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Fenton Lake State Park?
October has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Fenton Lake State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:58 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:32 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:49 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Fenton Lake State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Fenton Lake State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fenton Lake State Park?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Fenton Lake State Park from Jemez Pueblo?
About 30 km (19 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.