Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area is a wilderness area in Pima County, Arizona. It lies in or next to Saguaro National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Catalina Foothills, about 12.2 km (7.6 mi) away (Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area lies NE of town).
Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area is a 56,430 acre (228.36 km2) wilderness area. It is located within the Coronado National Forest in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. Established in 1978, the area varies greatly in elevation and biodiversity, rising from 2,800 feet to over 9,100 feet in elevation. The area was originally created in an ill-fated effort to preserve and protect the sensitive Desert Bighorn Sheep population on Pusch Ridge, one of the last remaining populations in Arizona. Due in part to increased residential and commercial development around the Santa Catalina Mountains in Oro Valley and the Catalina Foothills, however, the Desert Bighorn Sheep population in the wilderness area has dwindled dramatically, and sightings have nearly ceased in recent years. In November 2013, 31 adult bighorn sheep were reintroduced to the area. In early...From the Wikipedia article “Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area 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) | 6:28 AM | 90° E | 6:35 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:18 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) | 7:22 AM | 118° ESE | 5:23 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
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 15m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:35 PM | 11h 03m |
| March | 6:10 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:56 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:29 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 58m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 49m |
| June | 4:48 AM | 5:17 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:01 PM | 14h 16m |
| July | 5:00 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:00 PM | 14h 04m |
| August | 5:22 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 21m |
| September | 5:43 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:40 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:56 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:03 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:16 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:49 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 | 5:48 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 Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area, 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 ≈ 19.93 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 wilderness area
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.
Suggested gear: Lightweight tripod, Spare batteries, Headlamp, Navigation. 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 40 km of Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area, closest first.
Natural Arch
Mountain Peak
Canyon
Scenic Viewpoint
Waterfall
CanyonNatural Arch
Fire LookoutWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 25.3 km (3.3 mi) · reservable
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Cactus Ramada 15.3 km (3.3 mi) · reservable
- Whitetail Campground9.4 km (5.9 mi) · reservable
- Showers Point Group Site10.2 km (6.3 mi) · reservable
- Palisades Ranger Residence Cabin10.7 km (6.7 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area?
What time is golden hour at Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area?
Where does the sun rise and set at Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area?
Can you see the Milky Way from Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area?
How far is Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area from Catalina Foothills?
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.