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31.8871° N109.2822° W2,821 mBortle 1Phoenix

Rustler Park Fire Guard Station Photography Guide

Scenic Viewpoint in Cochise County, Arizona · 2,821 m (9,255 ft)

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 243°–299°
  • Clearest: May
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Located in Cochise County, Arizona, Rustler Park Fire Guard Station is a scenic viewpoint at about 2,821 m (9,255 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Douglas, about 65 km (41 mi) away (Rustler Park Fire Guard Station lies NNE of town).

Elevation
2,821 m
9,255 ft
Nearest town
Douglas
65 km (41 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
May
22% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.3 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:13 PM
sunset 5:46 PM

Light at Rustler Park Fire Guard Station

Live
Sunrise
6:25 AM
Sunset
5:40 PM
Golden hour AM
6:09 AM – 6:58 AM
Golden hour PM
5:07 PM – 5:55 PM
Blue hour AM
6:00 AM – 6:09 AM
Blue hour PM
5:55 PM – 6:05 PM
Full darkness
7:02 PM – 5:04 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
2:35 PM / 12:53 AM
Day length
11h 16m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Phoenix. 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 Rustler Park Fire Guard Station the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (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 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:22 AM90° E6:29 PM271° W58°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:13 AM62° ENE7:27 PM299° WNW82°14h 14m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:06 AM89° E6:15 PM271° W58°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:14 AM118° ESE5:18 PM243° WSW35°10h 04m

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

Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:52 AM7:18 AM7:54 AM5:00 PM5:36 PM6:02 PM10h 18m
February6:35 AM7:00 AM7:34 AM5:31 PM6:04 PM6:29 PM11h 04m
March6:04 AM6:28 AM7:00 AM5:53 PM6:26 PM6:50 PM11h 58m
April5:24 AM5:49 AM6:22 AM6:14 PM6:46 PM7:12 PM12h 57m
May4:54 AM5:21 AM5:55 AM6:33 PM7:08 PM7:35 PM13h 47m
June4:44 AM5:12 AM5:48 AM6:49 PM7:25 PM7:53 PM14h 13m
July4:55 AM5:23 AM5:58 AM6:50 PM7:25 PM7:52 PM14h 02m
August5:17 AM5:43 AM6:16 AM6:29 PM7:02 PM7:28 PM13h 20m
September5:37 AM6:02 AM6:34 AM5:52 PM6:25 PM6:49 PM12h 23m
October5:56 AM6:21 AM6:54 AM5:13 PM5:46 PM6:11 PM11h 25m
November6:21 AM6:47 AM7:22 AM4:44 PM5:19 PM5:45 PM10h 32m
December6:44 AM7:11 AM7:48 AM4:38 PM5:15 PM5:42 PM10h 05m

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 Rustler Park Fire Guard Station, 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 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
February4:46 AM – 5:36 AM0.818°SE → SE
March2:57 AM – 4:57 AM2.025°SE → SSE
April12:52 AM – 4:22 AM3.529°SE → S
May10:51 PM – 3:41 AM4.829°SE → SSW
June9:05 PM – 3:25 AM6.329°SE → SW
July9:02 PM – 2:02 AM5.029°SSE → SW
August8:31 PM – 12:01 AM3.529°S → SW
September7:47 PM – 9:57 PM2.226°SSW → SW
October7:07 PM – 7:57 PM0.818°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
DecemberBelow 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.9 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 22% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (60%). June is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F7483869410510810810399948576
Low °F19920283550605849262018
Precip. (in)0.80.70.60.20.10.53.63.01.70.60.70.8

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 scenic viewpoint

  • Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
  • Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
  • Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
  • Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.

Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, Graduated ND filter, Headlamp. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Rustler Park Fire Guard Station, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Centella Point1.4 km away · Cochise County · 2,809 m
Waterfall
North Fork Falls1.9 km away · Cochise County
Waterfall
Upper East Turkey Creek Waterfall2.4 km away · Cochise County
Waterfall
Sheila Falls2.7 km away · Cochise County
Scenic Viewpoint
Winn Falls Viewpoint3.1 km away · Cochise County
Waterfall
Winn Falls3.3 km away · Cochise County · 2,255 m
Waterfall
Pine Canyon Falls3.6 km away · Cochise County
Scenic Viewpoint
Ward Canyon Overlook3.8 km away · Cochise County
Scenic Viewpoint
Chiricahua Vista Helispot4.1 km away · Cochise County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Rustler Park Fire Guard Station?
May 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. Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
What time is golden hour at Rustler Park Fire Guard Station?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:13 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:46 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 6:54 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Rustler Park Fire Guard Station?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 62° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 243°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Rustler Park Fire Guard Station?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Rustler Park Fire Guard Station?
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 Rustler Park Fire Guard Station from Douglas?
About 65 km (41 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.