Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama
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34.5577° N86.9516° WBortle 5Chicago

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Morgan County, Alabama

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · source

Located in Morgan County, Alabama, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge. It sits roughly 4.2 km (2.6 mi) NNE of Flint City.

The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a 35,000-acre (140 km2) national wildlife refuge (NWR) located along the Tennessee River near Decatur, Alabama. Named after Major General Joseph Wheeler, it was established to provide a habitat for wintering and migrating birds in the Eastern United States. Of the 35,000 acres of the refuge, about 4,085 acres (16.53 km2) are located within Redstone Arsenal. Around 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of the Redstone Arsenal land are administered by the Marshall Space Flight Center. Wheeler NWR is charged with the administration of four other NWRs, including Fern Cave, Key Cave, Sauta Cave and Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge. Until recently, Wheeler NWR also administered the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (now administered by the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge).From the Wikipedia article “Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Flint City
4.2 km (2.6 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
October
45% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:41 PM
sunset 6:15 PM

Light at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
6:58 AM
Sunset
6:08 PM
Golden hour AM
6:42 AM – 7:32 AM
Golden hour PM
5:34 PM – 6:24 PM
Blue hour AM
6:33 AM – 6:42 AM
Blue hour PM
6:24 PM – 6:34 PM
Full darkness
7:32 PM – 5:35 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:07 PM / 1:15 AM
Day length
11h 10m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:52 AM90° E7:00 PM271° W55°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:36 AM61° ENE8:04 PM300° WNW79°14h 28m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:37 AM89° E6:46 PM271° W56°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:52 AM118° ESE4:42 PM242° WSW32°9h 50m

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

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:28 AM6:55 AM7:33 AM4:23 PM5:01 PM5:28 PM10h 06m
February6:08 AM6:34 AM7:09 AM4:57 PM5:32 PM5:57 PM10h 57m
March6:34 AM6:59 AM7:33 AM6:23 PM6:56 PM7:21 PM11h 57m
April5:51 AM6:17 AM6:51 AM6:46 PM7:20 PM7:46 PM13h 03m
May5:18 AM5:46 AM6:22 AM7:08 PM7:44 PM8:12 PM13h 58m
June5:06 AM5:35 AM6:13 AM7:26 PM8:03 PM8:32 PM14h 27m
July5:18 AM5:47 AM6:23 AM7:25 PM8:02 PM8:31 PM14h 15m
August5:43 AM6:09 AM6:44 AM7:03 PM7:37 PM8:04 PM13h 28m
September6:06 AM6:32 AM7:05 AM6:23 PM6:56 PM7:22 PM12h 25m
October6:29 AM6:54 AM7:28 AM5:41 PM6:15 PM6:40 PM11h 21m
November5:56 AM6:22 AM6:59 AM4:08 PM4:44 PM5:11 PM10h 22m
December6:20 AM6:48 AM7:27 AM4:01 PM4:39 PM5:07 PM9h 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 Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:26 AM – 5:06 AM0.716°SE → SE
March3:40 AM – 5:30 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April1:38 AM – 4:38 AM3.026°SE → S
May11:42 PM – 4:02 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June9:48 PM – 3:48 AM6.027°SE → SW
July9:44 PM – 2:24 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August9:09 PM – 12:19 AM3.227°S → SW
September8:21 PM – 10:21 PM2.023°SSW → SW
October7:38 PM – 8:18 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.81 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F7276828593105104106101998774
Low °F461424385256534029179
Precip. (in)4.45.54.74.74.44.14.43.83.83.54.25.6

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 national wildlife refuge

  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.
  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.

Suggested gear: Telephoto lens (400 mm+), Bean bag for car window, Binoculars. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Permits, drones & access

Drones: Launching or landing drones on National Wildlife Refuge lands generally requires a special use permit from the refuge manager, and wildlife disturbance rules apply everywhere.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Natural Arch
Hartselle Natural Bridge11 km away · Morgan County
Waterfall
Seven Falls26 km away · Morgan County · 202 m
Covered Bridge
Swan Creek Greenway Trail28 km away · Limestone County
Huntsville Botanical GardenBotanical Garden
Huntsville Botanical Garden34 km away · Madison County
Covered Bridge
Richard Martin Trail34 km away · Limestone County
Waterfall
Ditto Falls36 km away · Morgan County · 316 m
Waterfall
Welcome Falls38 km away · Morgan County · 261 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Mrs. Nadine Meslon Yeager38 km away · Madison County
Clarkson–Legg Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
Clarkson–Legg Covered Bridge39 km away · Cullman County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge?
October has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.
What time is golden hour at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:41 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:15 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:28 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge from Flint City?
About 4.2 km (2.6 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.