Stream Beds — a scenic viewpoint in Cochise County, Arizona — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Chiricahua National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Willcox, about 55 km (34 mi) away (Stream Beds lies ESE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Stream Beds 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 81° in summer but only 35° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:22 AM | 90° E | 6:29 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:12 AM | 62° ENE | 7:27 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 15m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:06 AM | 89° E | 6:15 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:15 AM | 118° ESE | 5:18 PM | 243° WSW | 35° | 10h 03m |
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 | 6:52 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:02 PM | 10h 17m |
| February | 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:29 PM | 11h 04m |
| March | 6:04 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:50 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:24 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:12 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 4:54 AM | 5:21 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 47m |
| June | 4:43 AM | 5:12 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:54 PM | 14h 14m |
| July | 4:55 AM | 5:22 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:53 PM | 14h 03m |
| August | 5:17 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:28 PM | 13h 20m |
| September | 5:38 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:34 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:49 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 5:57 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:54 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:46 PM | 6:11 PM | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:45 PM | 10h 32m |
| December | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 04m |
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 Stream Beds, 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:46 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:57 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:52 AM – 4:22 AM | 3.5 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 10:51 PM – 3:41 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:05 PM – 3:25 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:02 PM – 2:02 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:31 PM – 12:01 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 7:47 PM – 9:57 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:07 PM – 7:57 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.89 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 24% 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 | 74 | 82 | 87 | 96 | 106 | 109 | 111 | 106 | 103 | 96 | 85 | 76 |
| Low °F | 17 | 11 | 21 | 29 | 35 | 48 | 62 | 61 | 46 | 28 | 20 | 19 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
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 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.
- Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
- 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 Stream Beds, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Fire LookoutScenic Viewpoint
Waterfall
Natural Arch
Canyon
Dark Sky PlaceNatural ArchWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Bonita Canyon Campground4.2 km (2.6 mi) · reservable
- Portal Ccc House20 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Portal Bunkhouse21 km (13 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Stream Beds?
What time is golden hour at Stream Beds?
Where does the sun rise and set at Stream Beds?
Can you see the Milky Way from Stream Beds?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Stream Beds?
How far is Stream Beds from Willcox?
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.