Located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson Wilderness is a wilderness area. It lies in or next to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 37 km (23 mi) NNE of Washburn.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a U.S. national lakeshore consisting of 21 islands (the Apostle Islands) and shoreline encompassing 69,540 acres (28,140 ha) in northern Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior. It is known for its collection of historic lighthouses, sandstone sea caves, a few old-growth remnant forests, and natural animal habitats. Of its area, 42,308 acres (17,121 ha) is land and 27,232 acres (11,020 ha) is water, extending one-quarter mile from the 155 miles (249 km) of shoreline. The national lakeshore is managed by the National Park Service and headquartered in Bayfield, Wisconsin, on Lake Superior. Madeline Island, with commercial establishments of the town of La Pointe, is the only one of the Apostle Islands not included in the national lakeshore, although a portion of the island is protected as Big Bay State Park. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore...From the Wikipedia article “Apostle Islands National Lakeshore”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Gaylord Nelson Wilderness the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:08 AM | 53° NE | 9:02 PM | 307° NW | 66° | 15h 54m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:50 AM | 89° E | 7:02 PM | 271° W | 43° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:46 AM | 125° SE | 4:17 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 31m |
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 | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:34 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:15 PM | 8h 56m |
| February | 6:37 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:59 PM | 10h 19m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:39 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 35m |
| May | 4:52 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:07 PM | 15h 03m |
| June | 4:28 AM | 5:08 AM | 5:55 AM | 8:13 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:40 PM | 15h 52m |
| July | 4:45 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:09 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:33 PM | 15h 31m |
| August | 5:27 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 15m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:21 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:47 PM | 12h 35m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:17 PM | 6:48 PM | 10h 56m |
| November | 6:34 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:54 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:03 PM | 9h 23m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:34 AM | 3:23 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:50 PM | 8h 32m |
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 Gaylord Nelson Wilderness, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| March | 5:31 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:24 AM – 4:14 AM | 0.8 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:31 AM – 3:01 AM | 1.5 | 14° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:56 PM – 2:06 AM | 2.2 | 14° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:31 PM – 1:01 AM | 1.5 | 14° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:18 PM – 10:58 PM | 0.7 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.92 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.5+ 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 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (76%). 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 | 42 | 52 | 72 | 76 | 86 | 89 | 98 | 93 | 89 | 80 | 68 | 54 |
| Low °F | -25 | -24 | -24 | 9 | 25 | 36 | 44 | 44 | 33 | 18 | 1 | -16 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
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
- 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.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Gaylord Nelson Wilderness, closest first.
Lighthouse
Sand Dunes
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
State ParkSand Dunes
Lighthouse
LighthouseCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
How far is Gaylord Nelson Wilderness from Washburn?
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.