Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is a national wildlife refuge in Osceola County, Florida. The nearest town is Fellsmere, about 39 km (24 mi) away (Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area lies WSW of town).
The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, created in 2012, is the newest addition and 556th unit of the United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System. It began with 10 acres (4.0 ha) donated to the conservation effort as part of the Obama administration's America's Great Outdoors Initiative.From the Wikipedia article “Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 86° in summer but only 39° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:29 AM | 90° E | 7:36 PM | 270° W | 62° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:30 AM | 63° ENE | 8:23 PM | 297° WNW | 86° | 13h 53m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 63° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:11 AM | 116° ESE | 5:34 PM | 244° WSW | 39° | 10h 23m |
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 | 6:51 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 35m |
| February | 6:38 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:40 PM | 11h 14m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:05 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:33 PM | 7:56 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:13 PM | 12h 49m |
| May | 6:10 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 31m |
| June | 6:02 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 53m |
| July | 6:13 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 44m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 08m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 12h 20m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 32m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:19 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 47m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 24m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 33° 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 | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:35 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.0 | 20° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:41 AM – 6:11 AM | 2.5 | 30° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:40 AM – 5:30 AM | 3.8 | 33° | SE → S |
| May | 11:44 PM – 5:04 AM | 5.3 | 33° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:55 PM – 4:55 AM | 7.0 | 33° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:53 PM – 3:23 AM | 5.5 | 33° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:27 PM – 1:27 AM | 4.0 | 33° | S → SW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 11:19 PM | 2.5 | 30° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:14 PM – 9:24 PM | 1.2 | 21° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 21.36 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (57%). August 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 | 85 | 89 | 94 | 96 | 100 | 98 | 97 | 97 | 93 | 91 | 87 | 87 |
| Low °F | 30 | 32 | 37 | 47 | 54 | 69 | 72 | 71 | 64 | 44 | 42 | 30 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
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 Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area?
What time is golden hour at Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area?
Where does the sun rise and set at Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area?
Can you see the Milky Way from Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area?
How far is Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area from Fellsmere?
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.