Sunrise, Sentinel Park (Tucson, AZ)

First Light Over the City. Tucson, Arizona, 2015 (Mt. Wrightson and the Santa Rita Range is on the horizon.)

First Light Over the City. Tucson, Arizona, 2015 (Mt. Wrightson and the Santa Rita Range are on the horizon. Blurred lines show the commuters coming up from points south, and an airliner approaching the airport.)

Can’t decide on a place to go for sunrise or sunset photography whilst hanging out in the Old Pueblo? Don’t have a lot of time? Then consider a Sentinel Park outing–it is a very quick trip from most anywhere in Tucson and and it provides for some nice views of the city and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Take Broadway to the west (it will change to Congress as you weave through the downtown area), pass under the Interstate, then continue westward (ho!) until the road jogs 90 degrees right–you go left here (follow the signs).

Sentinel Park, or “A Mountain” (2,897′) as it might be called by locals, is open from 8a.m. to 8p.m., so figure that in to your sunrise/sunset photography schedule.

If the park is closed (obvious, as the huge metal barriers will be down), simply park off the road, walk up the pavement, and you’ll be on top in 20 minutes or so.

A few monochrome images of what you might find…

Dawn partiers in the middle of the giant “A” (University of Arizona!)–and a lurking photographer’s shadow: