Located in Suffolk County, New York, Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness is a wilderness area. It lies in or next to Fire Island National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 5.1 km (3.2 mi) S of Bellport.
Fire Island National Seashore (FINS) is a United States National Seashore that protects a 26-mile (42 km) section of Fire Island, an approximately 30-mile (48 km) long and 0.5-mile (0.80 km) wide barrier island separated from Long Island by the Great South Bay. The island is part of New York State's Suffolk County and the Outer Barrier. There are 17 private communities within the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore including Saltaire, Fire Island Pines, and Ocean Beach. Only two bridges lead to Fire Island and the national seashore and there are no public roads within the seashore itself. The Robert Moses Causeway leads to Robert Moses State Park on the western end of Fire Island while the William Floyd Parkway leads to the eastern end of the island. The seashore can also be accessed by private boat or by ferry from the communities of Patchogue, Sayville, and Bay Shore on...From the Wikipedia article “Fire Island National Seashore”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:56 AM | 90° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:21 AM | 58° ENE | 8:27 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 06m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:40 AM | 89° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:13 AM | 121° ESE | 4:28 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 15m |
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 | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 35m |
| February | 6:19 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 6:37 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:45 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:59 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:05 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:33 PM | 14h 27m |
| June | 4:47 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:59 PM | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:02 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 49m |
| August | 5:33 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:06 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:30 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:36 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:13 PM | 6:41 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:10 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:20 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:35 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 56m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:57 PM | 9h 17m |
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 Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 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 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:09 AM – 5:09 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:20 AM – 5:30 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:20 AM – 4:30 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:15 AM – 3:35 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:32 PM – 3:12 AM | 4.7 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:23 PM – 1:43 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:35 PM – 11:45 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:36 PM – 9:46 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:44 PM – 7:44 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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: 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 ≈ 19.27 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). August is the warmest month and February 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 | 58 | 55 | 56 | 63 | 70 | 77 | 83 | 81 | 79 | 73 | 67 | 63 |
| Low °F | 12 | 11 | 17 | 32 | 39 | 52 | 61 | 63 | 55 | 43 | 30 | 22 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.3 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 5.7 |
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
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, closest first.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
Lake
State Park
State Park
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
State Park
LighthouseCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Watch Hill Campground5.4 km (3.4 mi)
- Watch Hill Bayview House5.7 km (3.6 mi) · reservable
- The Bayberry Dunes House5.7 km (3.6 mi) · reservable
- The Cottage At Sailors Haven15.7 km (9.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness?
How far is Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness from Bellport?
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.