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National Wildlife Refuges in California

37 national wildlife refuges in California with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Imperial County has the most (3). The darkest skies are at Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 1).

Top national wildlife refuges

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife RefugeSan Mateo County
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife RefugeImperial County
Lower Klamath National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lower Klamath National Wildlife RefugeSiskiyou County
Clear Lake National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Clear Lake National Wildlife RefugeModoc County
Imperial National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Imperial National Wildlife RefugeImperial County
Modoc National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Modoc National Wildlife RefugeModoc County
Tule Lake National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Tule Lake National Wildlife RefugeSiskiyou County
Bitter Creek National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Bitter Creek National Wildlife RefugeKern County
Delevan National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Delevan National Wildlife RefugeColusa County
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife RefugeSanta Cruz County
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife RefugeVentura County
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife RefugeHumboldt County

National Wildlife Refuges by county

All national wildlife refuges (37)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife RefugeSan Mateo County—East Palo Alto7
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife RefugeImperial County—Westmorland3
Lower Klamath National Wildlife RefugeSiskiyou County—Altamont2
Clear Lake National Wildlife RefugeModoc County—Altamont1
Imperial National Wildlife RefugeImperial County—Yuma2
Modoc National Wildlife RefugeModoc County—Alturas3
Tule Lake National Wildlife RefugeSiskiyou County—Altamont2
Bitter Creek National Wildlife RefugeKern County—Maricopa4
Delevan National Wildlife RefugeColusa County—Maxwell3
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife RefugeSanta Cruz County—La Selva Beach6
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife RefugeVentura County—Piru5
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife RefugeHumboldt County—Humboldt Hill5
Merced National Wildlife RefugeMerced County—Atwater4
Stone Lakes National Wildlife RefugeSacramento County—Laguna6
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego County—Imperial Beach7
Kern National Wildlife RefugeKern County—Lost Hills3
San Joaquin River National Wildlife RefugeStanislaus County—Salida5
Sutter National Wildlife RefugeSutter County—Sutter5
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife RefugeContra Costa County—Antioch7
Blue Ridge National Wildlife RefugeTulare County—Three Rivers3
Castle Rock National Wildlife RefugeDel Norte County—Crescent City4
Coachella Valley National Wildlife RefugeRiverside County—Bermuda Dunes5
Colusa National Wildlife RefugeColusa County—Colusa4
Pixley National Wildlife RefugeTulare County—Teviston4
Sacramento River National Wildlife RefugeGlenn County—Hamilton City5
Salinas River National Wildlife RefugeMonterey County—Castroville5
San Diego Bay National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego County—Imperial Beach8
San Luis National Wildlife RefugeMerced County—Los Banos4
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife RefugeSonoma County—Black Point-Green Point5
Seal Beach National Wildlife RefugeOrange County—Seal Beach8
Guadalupe–Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife RefugeSan Luis Obispo County—Guadalupe5
Cibola National Wildlife RefugeImperial County—Mesa Verde2
Kesterson National Wildlife RefugeMerced County—Gustine4
Skaggs Island Naval Communication StationSonoma County—American Canyon5
Sacramento National Wildlife RefugeGlenn County—Willows3
Marin Islands National Wildlife RefugeMarin County—San Rafael7
Farallon Islands National Wildlife RefugeMarin County—Bolinas4

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

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.