Geese and pheasants on Sutter National Wildlife Refuge in California after a prescribed burn
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39.0829° N121.7560° WBortle 5Los Angeles

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Sutter County, California

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: USFWS · Public domain · source

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Sutter County, California. It sits roughly 8.6 km (5.3 mi) S of Sutter.

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, the southernmost refuge in the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, is located in the Sacramento Valley of California, about 50 miles (80 km) north of the metropolitan area of Sacramento. The refuge consists of about 2,600 acres (11 km2), consisting primarily of wetland impoundments with some riparian and grassland habitat. About 80 percent of the refuge is located in the Sutter Bypass, a floodwater bypass from the Sacramento River that floods at least once a year and may cover portions of the refuge with up to 12 feet (3.7 m) of water. Sutter Refuge typically supports wintering populations of more than 175,000 ducks and 50,000 geese. The mixed riparian forest habitat on the refuge is important for breeding and migrating passerine birds, and supports a large heron/egret rookery. The refuge provides habitat for several Federal and State...From the Wikipedia article “Sutter National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Sutter
8.6 km (5.3 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
July
10% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:53 PM
sunset 6:30 PM

Light at Sutter National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:22 AM
Sunset
6:23 PM
Golden hour AM
7:06 AM – 7:59 AM
Golden hour PM
5:46 PM – 6:39 PM
Blue hour AM
6:55 AM – 7:06 AM
Blue hour PM
6:39 PM – 6:50 PM
Full darkness
7:52 PM – 5:54 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:37 PM / 1:31 AM
Day length
11h 00m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Los Angeles. 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 Sutter National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:11 AM90° E7:19 PM271° W51°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:42 AM59° ENE8:37 PM302° WNW74°14h 55m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:55 AM89° E7:06 PM271° W51°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:23 AM120° ESE4:48 PM240° WSW27°9h 25m

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
January6:56 AM7:25 AM8:06 AM4:28 PM5:09 PM5:38 PM9h 44m
February6:32 AM7:00 AM7:37 AM5:08 PM5:45 PM6:12 PM10h 45m
March6:53 AM7:19 AM7:55 AM6:39 PM7:14 PM7:41 PM11h 55m
April6:03 AM6:31 AM7:07 AM7:09 PM7:44 PM8:12 PM13h 14m
May5:25 AM5:55 AM6:33 AM7:36 PM8:14 PM8:44 PM14h 19m
June5:09 AM5:41 AM6:21 AM7:55 PM8:35 PM9:08 PM14h 54m
July5:23 AM5:54 AM6:33 AM7:54 PM8:33 PM9:04 PM14h 39m
August5:53 AM6:21 AM6:58 AM7:27 PM8:04 PM8:32 PM13h 42m
September6:22 AM6:49 AM7:24 AM6:42 PM7:17 PM7:44 PM12h 28m
October6:50 AM7:17 AM7:53 AM5:53 PM6:30 PM6:57 PM11h 12m
November6:22 AM6:51 AM7:30 AM4:15 PM4:54 PM5:23 PM10h 03m
December6:50 AM7:20 AM8:02 AM4:04 PM4:46 PM5:16 PM9h 26m

Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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—-2°—
February5:14 AM – 5:24 AM0.212°SE → SE
March4:23 AM – 5:43 AM1.319°SE → SSE
April2:19 AM – 4:49 AM2.522°SE → S
May12:21 AM – 4:01 AM3.722°SE → S
June10:34 PM – 3:34 AM5.022°SE → SSW
July10:27 PM – 2:17 AM3.822°SSE → SW
August9:43 PM – 12:13 AM2.522°S → SW
September8:48 PM – 10:08 PM1.319°SSW → SW
October7:58 PM – 8:08 PM0.212°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-19°—

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 ≈ 20.43 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 10% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (62%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F74747984100108109106108998569
Low °F191924283239494938311415
Precip. (in)5.46.25.12.91.60.50.00.10.41.83.87.2

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

  • 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.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

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 Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Ellis LakeLake
Ellis Lake16 km away · Yuba County · 16 m
Sutter ButtesVolcano
Sutter Buttes17 km away · Sutter County
Waterfall
The Falls17 km away · Sutter County · 172 m
Colusa National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge26 km away · Colusa County
Delevan National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Delevan National Wildlife Refuge39 km away · Colusa County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Sutter National Wildlife Refuge?
July 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 Sutter National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:53 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:30 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:53 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Sutter National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 59° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 240°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Sutter National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sutter 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 Sutter National Wildlife Refuge from Sutter?
About 8.6 km (5.3 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.