1. Home
  2. National Wildlife Refuges
  3. Arizona

National Wildlife Refuges in Arizona

7 national wildlife refuges in Arizona with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Pima County has the most (2). The darkest skies are at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 2).

Top national wildlife refuges

Buenos Aires National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Buenos Aires National Wildlife RefugePima County
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife RefugePima County
Havasu National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Havasu National Wildlife RefugeMohave County
Kofa National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Kofa National Wildlife RefugeYuma County
Leslie Canyon National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Leslie Canyon National Wildlife RefugeCochise County
Bill Williams River National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Bill Williams River National Wildlife RefugeMohave County
San Bernardino National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
San Bernardino National Wildlife RefugeCochise County

Map

How to photograph national wildlife refuges

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

  • 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.
  • 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.

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