Schmeeckle Reserve — a botanical garden in Portage County, Wisconsin — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 2.1 km (1.3 mi) NNE of Stevens Point.
Schmeeckle Reserve is a 280-acre (1.1 km2) natural land area located on the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. It contains hiking trails, natural land area, a visitor center, multiple habitats, abundant wildlife and a manmade lake. "The Reserve was created to protect and restore native ecological communities, serve as an outdoor classroom for students and teachers, and provide recreational opportunities to all visitors."From the Wikipedia article “Schmeeckle Reserve”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Schmeeckle Reserve the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:02 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:14 AM | 55° NE | 8:47 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 33m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:46 AM | 89° E | 6:58 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:33 AM | 123° ESE | 4:22 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 49m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:00 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:18 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:17 PM | 9h 12m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:40 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 28m |
| March | 6:43 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:13 PM | 13h 28m |
| May | 4:58 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 48m |
| June | 4:37 AM | 5:14 AM | 5:58 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:22 PM | 15h 32m |
| July | 4:53 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:17 PM | 15h 14m |
| August | 5:30 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 04m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:40 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 11h 02m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:40 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:32 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 37m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:17 AM | 3:32 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:53 PM | 8h 51m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Schmeeckle Reserve, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:51 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:49 AM – 4:19 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:56 AM – 3:16 AM | 2.3 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:13 PM – 2:43 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:59 PM – 1:19 AM | 2.3 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:59 PM – 11:19 PM | 1.3 | 16° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 9:20 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.13 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). 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 | 47 | 59 | 77 | 81 | 90 | 89 | 97 | 93 | 89 | 83 | 71 | 60 |
| Low °F | -41 | -27 | -22 | 3 | 25 | 36 | 45 | 41 | 31 | 21 | 0 | -30 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
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 botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Schmeeckle Reserve, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Schmeeckle Reserve?
What time is golden hour at Schmeeckle Reserve?
Where does the sun rise and set at Schmeeckle Reserve?
Can you see the Milky Way from Schmeeckle Reserve?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Schmeeckle Reserve?
How far is Schmeeckle Reserve from Stevens Point?
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.