Seven Cateracts Vista — a scenic viewpoint in Pima County, Arizona — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Saguaro National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 11.8 km (7.3 mi) N of Tanque Verde.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Seven Cateracts Vista 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) | 6:27 AM | 90° E | 6:35 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:17 AM | 61° ENE | 7:34 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 17m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:12 AM | 89° E | 6:21 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:21 AM | 118° ESE | 5:22 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
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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:59 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 16m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:09 PM | 6:35 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:10 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:56 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:29 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:27 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 49m |
| June | 4:48 AM | 5:16 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:01 PM | 14h 16m |
| July | 4:59 AM | 5:27 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:59 PM | 14h 04m |
| August | 5:22 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 21m |
| September | 5:43 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:40 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:55 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:03 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:00 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:16 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 30m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:47 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 Seven Cateracts Vista, 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 | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:52 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:03 AM – 5:03 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:58 AM – 4:18 AM | 3.3 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 10:58 PM – 3:48 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:13 PM – 3:33 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:09 PM – 2:09 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:37 PM – 12:07 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 7:53 PM – 10:03 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:13 PM – 8:03 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 ≈ 20.42 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 scenic viewpoint
- 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.
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Seven Cateracts Vista, closest first.
Waterfall
Scenic ViewpointWaterfallScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Natural ArchScenic Viewpoint
Canyon
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Molino3.8 km (2.3 mi) · reservable
- Rose Canyon5.2 km (3.3 mi) · reservable
- Showers Point Group Site5.6 km (3.5 mi) · reservable
- Sollers Cabin (Az)5.9 km (3.6 mi) · reservable
- Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin5.9 km (3.7 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Seven Cateracts Vista?
What time is golden hour at Seven Cateracts Vista?
Where does the sun rise and set at Seven Cateracts Vista?
Can you see the Milky Way from Seven Cateracts Vista?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Seven Cateracts Vista?
How far is Seven Cateracts Vista from Tanque Verde?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.