Located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, Jemez Falls is a waterfall at about 2,374 m (7,789 ft) above sea level. It is part of Santa Fe National Forest. The nearest town is Jemez Pueblo, about 25 km (15 mi) away (Jemez Falls lies NNE of town).
Jemez Falls is a waterfall located in the Jemez Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest. The falls are located on the East Fork of the Jemez River in an area dominated by Ponderosa Pine forests. Jemez Falls are the highest waterfalls in the Jemez Mountains. There are some smaller falls on the river just above the main falls. The falls are accessible from a trail that starts at the Jemez Falls campground and day use area. There is an overlook at the end of the trail. The Jemez Falls Campground is located at an elevation of 7,880 feet above sea level. Campers should come prepared for warm days and cooler nights. The East Fork of the Jemez River is in close proximity to the campground. Because of this, it also offers nice fishing and whitewater kayaking. Tourists believe the Jemez falls to be the most satisfying spot in New Mexico. The falls have a heavy flow especially when there is...From the Wikipedia article “Jemez Falls”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Jemez Falls 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:11 AM | 90° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 60° ENE | 8:27 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 35m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:55 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 119° ESE | 4:57 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 44m |
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
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:49 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:44 PM | 10h 00m |
| February | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 6:53 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:40 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:33 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 03m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 34m |
| July | 5:33 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 21m |
| August | 5:59 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:41 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:58 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:28 PM | 10h 17m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 45m |
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 Jemez Falls, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:54 AM – 5:24 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:59 AM – 5:49 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:05 AM – 4:15 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:13 PM – 3:53 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:08 PM – 2:28 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:31 PM – 12:31 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:31 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:57 PM – 8:27 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.69 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 65 | 70 | 79 | 86 | 97 | 103 | 102 | 98 | 96 | 86 | 73 | 64 |
| Low °F | 0 | -3 | 13 | 20 | 25 | 38 | 52 | 48 | 31 | 18 | 11 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 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 waterfall
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.
- Bracket shutter speeds: 1/8 s, 1/2 s and 2 s give very different water textures and you can choose later.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Jemez Falls, closest first.
Hot Spring
Scenic Viewpoint
Dark Sky Place
Natural Arch
CaveHot Spring
Volcano
State ParkHot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Jemez Falls Campground915 m · reservable
- Jemez Falls (Nm) Picnic Area948 m · reservable
- Redondo Campground6.2 km (3.9 mi) · reservable
- San Antonio Campground9.5 km (5.9 mi) · reservable
- Paliza12.0 km (7.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Jemez Falls?
What time is golden hour at Jemez Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Jemez Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Jemez Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Jemez Falls?
How far is Jemez Falls from Jemez Pueblo?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, 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.