Brant Nesting Area - Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge[1]
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61.0006° N163.0010° WBortle 1Nome

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Bethel Census Area, Alaska

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 218°–328°
  • Clearest: March
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · source

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. The nearest town is Bethel, about 71 km (44 mi) away (Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge lies WNW of town).

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge covering about 19.16 million acres (77,500 km2) in southwestern Alaska. It is the second-largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country, only slightly smaller than the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is a coastal plain extending to the Bering Sea, covering the delta created by the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. The delta includes extensive wetlands near sea level that are often inundated by Bering Sea tides. It is bordered on the east by Wood-Tikchik State Park, the largest state park in the United States. The refuge is administered from offices in Bethel.From the Wikipedia article “Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Bethel
71 km (44 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
March
54% cloud
Golden hour (Oct)
6:41 PM
sunset 7:42 PM

Light at Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
9:48 AM
Sunset
7:27 PM
Golden hour AM
9:20 AM – 10:51 AM
Golden hour PM
6:23 PM – 7:54 PM
Blue hour AM
9:03 AM – 9:20 AM
Blue hour PM
7:54 PM – 8:11 PM
Full darkness
9:51 PM – 7:26 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 72%
Moonrise / set
6:19 PM / 2:09 AM
Day length
9h 39m
Sunrise azimuth
110°
Sunset azimuth
250°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Nome. 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 Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 32° (NNE) at the June solstice and 143° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 328° (NNW) in June to 218° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 52° in summer but only 6° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)8:54 AM89° E9:07 PM272° W29°12h 13m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:16 AM32° NNE12:33 AM328° NNW52°19h 17m
September equinox (Sep 22)8:37 AM88° E8:54 PM272° W29°12h 17m
December solstice (Dec 21)11:05 AM143° SE4:37 PM218° SW6°5h 32m

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
January9:53 AM10:48 AM12:33 PM3:31 PM5:16 PM6:12 PM6h 28m
February8:49 AM9:34 AM10:41 AM5:33 PM6:40 PM7:25 PM9h 05m
March8:27 AM9:09 AM10:07 AM7:57 PM8:54 PM9:37 PM11h 45m
April6:44 AM7:32 AM8:31 AM9:14 PM10:13 PM11:01 PM14h 41m
May4:58 AM6:07 AM7:17 AM10:21 PM11:32 PM12:41 AM17h 25m
June—5:17 AM6:42 AM11:05 PM12:30 AM—19h 13m
July4:17 AM5:47 AM7:04 AM10:53 PM12:10 AM1:40 AM18h 23m
August6:09 AM7:03 AM8:05 AM9:50 PM10:52 PM11:46 PM15h 49m
September7:36 AM8:20 AM9:17 AM8:20 PM9:16 PM10:00 PM12h 56m
October8:51 AM9:35 AM10:36 AM6:41 PM7:42 PM8:26 PM10h 07m
November9:06 AM9:58 AM11:23 AM3:52 PM5:17 PM6:09 PM7h 20m
December9:59 AM11:00 AM——4:36 PM5:37 PM5h 36m

Local time (America/Nome), 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

The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-12°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—-6°—
MarchBelow 10° in darkness—-5°—
AprilBelow 10° in darkness—-9°—
MayNo darkness———
JuneNo darkness———
JulyNo darkness———
AugustBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
SeptemberBelow 10° in darkness—-7°—
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—-7°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-12°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-22°—

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 ≈ 21.95 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 1.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (82%). 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 °F363535587277878170544540
Low °F-44-40-27-15627333226-5-33-40
Precip. (in)1.72.31.31.82.22.43.53.73.62.92.42.0

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

  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • 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.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

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.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge?
March has the clearest skies on average. 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 Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:41 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:42 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 10:36 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 32° in June to 143° in December; sunset ranges from 328° to 218°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge?
The Milky Way core stays very low or the nights are too bright at this latitude. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Yukon Delta 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 Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge from Bethel?
About 71 km (44 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.