Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Alamosa County, Colorado. The nearest town is Alamosa East, about 9.7 km (6.0 mi) away (Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge lies SE of town).
The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is an 11,169-acre (4,520 ha) United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern Colorado. The site is located in the San Luis Valley along the east side of the Rio Grande approximately 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Alamosa primarily in southeastern Alamosa County, although very small parts extend into northeastern Conejos and western Costilla counties. It is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service jointly with the Baca and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges. It was established in 1962 as a haven for migratory birds and other wildlife.From the Wikipedia article “Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:08 AM | 90° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:43 AM | 59° ENE | 8:28 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:52 AM | 89° E | 7:02 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:15 AM | 119° ESE | 4:49 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 35m |
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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:49 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:38 PM | 9h 52m |
| February | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:43 PM | 6:10 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 6:49 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:37 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:02 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:26 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:35 PM | 14h 11m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 44m |
| July | 5:25 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 30m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:13 PM | 7:39 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:27 PM | 6:54 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:22 PM | 10h 10m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:16 PM | 9h 36m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:01 AM – 5:21 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:08 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:11 AM – 4:51 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:10 AM – 4:00 AM | 3.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| June | 10:20 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.3 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:14 PM – 2:14 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:34 PM – 12:14 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:54 PM – 8:14 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.67 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 37% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (62%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 54 | 60 | 69 | 75 | 91 | 93 | 94 | 90 | 88 | 80 | 68 | 57 |
| Low °F | -14 | -12 | -3 | 13 | 18 | 30 | 43 | 40 | 21 | 11 | -5 | -17 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
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
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
Mountain Peak
Waterfall
Mountain PeakMountain Peak
Mountain PeakCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge?
What time is golden hour at Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge?
How far is Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge from Alamosa East?
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.