Okefenokee Wilderness — a wilderness area in Charlton County, Georgia — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Folkston, about 29 km (18 mi) away (Okefenokee Wilderness lies W of town).
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a 402,000‑acre (1,627 km2) National Wildlife Refuge located in Charlton, Ware, and Clinch Counties of Georgia, and Baker County in Florida, United States. The refuge is administered from offices in Folkston, Georgia. The refuge was established in 1937 to protect a majority of the 438,000 acres (1,770 km2) in the Okefenokee Swamp. The name "Okefenokee", often translated as "land of trembling earth", is likely derived from Hitchiti oki fanôːki ("bubbling water"). Nearly 400,000 people visit the refuge each year, making it the 16th most visited refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is the largest of any that is not located in a western state. In 1999, the economic impact of tourism in Charlton, Ware, and Clinch Counties in Georgia exceeded $67 million. The refuge has a staff of 16 with a fiscal year 2005 budget of $1,451,000. The...From the Wikipedia article “Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Okefenokee Wilderness the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:34 AM | 90° E | 7:41 PM | 271° W | 59° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:27 AM | 62° ENE | 8:36 PM | 298° WNW | 83° | 14h 09m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:18 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 59° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:24 AM | 117° ESE | 5:32 PM | 243° WSW | 36° | 10h 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
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 | 7:02 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:04 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 22m |
| February | 6:46 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:42 PM | 11h 06m |
| March | 7:16 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:12 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:25 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:22 PM | 12h 55m |
| May | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:44 PM | 13h 43m |
| June | 5:59 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:02 PM | 14h 08m |
| July | 6:10 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:02 PM | 13h 58m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:38 PM | 13h 17m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:01 PM | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:27 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 27m |
| November | 6:31 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 36m |
| December | 6:54 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 10m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Okefenokee Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 30° 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 | 4:48 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:58 AM – 6:18 AM | 2.3 | 27° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:01 AM – 5:31 AM | 3.5 | 30° | SE → S |
| May | 11:59 PM – 4:59 AM | 5.0 | 30° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:12 PM – 4:42 AM | 6.5 | 30° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:09 PM – 3:19 AM | 5.2 | 30° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:40 PM – 1:20 AM | 3.7 | 30° | S → SW |
| September | 8:57 PM – 11:17 PM | 2.3 | 27° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:19 PM – 9:19 PM | 1.0 | 19° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.67 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 83 | 87 | 94 | 96 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 103 | 102 | 98 | 89 | 84 |
| Low °F | 17 | 20 | 23 | 34 | 48 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 52 | 32 | 24 | 21 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 3.4 |
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
Drones: Drones may not take off from or land in federally designated wilderness, where mechanized equipment is prohibited under the Wilderness Act.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Okefenokee Wilderness, closest first.
Dark Sky Place
National Wildlife Refuge
Ghost TownCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Okefenokee Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Okefenokee Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Okefenokee Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Okefenokee Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Okefenokee Wilderness?
How far is Okefenokee Wilderness from Folkston?
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.