Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor) — a sand dunes in Lake County, Indiana at about 185 m (607 ft) above sea level — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Indiana Dunes National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 4.5 km (2.8 mi) NW of Gary.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor) the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:02 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:16 AM | 57° ENE | 8:28 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 12m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:49 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 121° ESE | 4:23 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 09m |
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
Dunes need low sun: ripples and ridgelines only appear when side-light casts shadows, so shoot within an hour of sunrise or sunset.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:44 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:15 PM | 9h 30m |
| February | 6:17 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:24 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:41 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:59 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:34 PM | 14h 31m |
| June | 4:41 AM | 5:16 AM | 5:58 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:26 PM | 9:00 PM | 15h 11m |
| July | 4:56 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 54m |
| August | 5:29 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:03 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:29 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:10 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:21 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:31 PM | 5:01 PM | 9h 51m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:36 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:52 PM | 9h 11m |
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 Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor), the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:19 AM – 5:19 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:20 AM – 4:20 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:18 AM – 3:28 AM | 3.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:36 PM – 3:06 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:26 PM – 1:36 AM | 3.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:36 PM – 11:36 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:36 PM – 9:36 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:42 PM – 7:42 PM | 0.0 | 10° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.59 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (73%). 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 | 62 | 64 | 80 | 80 | 92 | 98 | 103 | 96 | 95 | 86 | 74 | 68 |
| Low °F | -24 | -15 | -8 | 21 | 27 | 36 | 48 | 49 | 38 | 22 | 12 | -9 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
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 sand dunes
- Protect gear from blowing sand; avoid changing lenses in the wind.
- Sand surfaces get extremely hot in summer afternoons.
- Walk along ridges rather than across faces to avoid leaving footprints in your future compositions.
- A telephoto isolates S-curves and layered ridges.
- Wind erases tracks overnight — mornings have the cleanest sand.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring and autumn for comfortable temperatures; full moon nights give soft light on the sand.
Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Lens blower, Sun protection, Water. 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 Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor), closest first.
Sand DunesSand DunesSand DunesSand Dunes
LighthouseSand Dunes
Botanical Garden
Lake
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- West Beach Picnic Shelters15.1 km (9.4 mi) · reservable
- Chellberg Farm Picnic Shelters25 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)?
What time is golden hour at Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)?
Where does the sun rise and set at Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)?
Can you see the Milky Way from Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)?
How far is Clark and Pine Nature Preserve Dune and Swale Complex (Minor) from Gary?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.