Patuxent Research Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Baltimore-Washington Parkway, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Maryland City, about 5.1 km (3.2 mi) away (Patuxent Research Refuge lies SE of town).
The Patuxent Research Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, established in 1936 by executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is the only National Wildlife Refuge in the country established to support wildlife research. With land surrounding the Patuxent and Little Patuxent Rivers between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, the refuge has grown from the original 2,670 acres (10.8 km2) to its present size of over 12,800 acres (52 km2) and encompasses land formerly managed by the Departments of Agriculture and Defense. Throughout decades of change, Patuxent's mission of conserving and protecting the nation's wildlife and habitat through research and wildlife management techniques has remained virtually unchanged. About 1,100 species of vascular plants have been reported on the refuge.From the Wikipedia article “Patuxent Research Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Patuxent Research 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 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:12 AM | 90° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:42 AM | 59° ENE | 8:37 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 55m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:55 AM | 89° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 120° ESE | 4:49 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:56 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:38 PM | 9h 44m |
| February | 6:32 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:12 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:41 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:12 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:25 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:09 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:07 PM | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:23 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:04 PM | 14h 39m |
| August | 5:53 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:30 PM | 6:57 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:22 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:23 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:04 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:16 PM | 9h 27m |
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 Patuxent Research 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 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:14 AM – 5:24 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:23 AM – 5:43 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:21 AM – 4:01 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:34 PM – 3:34 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:27 PM – 2:17 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:59 PM – 8:09 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.65 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (63%). 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 | 67 | 73 | 78 | 90 | 91 | 96 | 103 | 99 | 96 | 95 | 76 | 70 |
| Low °F | 1 | -4 | -2 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 54 | 54 | 42 | 29 | 21 | 10 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
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
- 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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Patuxent Research Refuge, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Lake
State Park
Beach
State Park
LighthouseCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Greenbelt Campground12.6 km (7.9 mi) · reservable
- Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas12.6 km (7.9 mi) · reservable
- Greenbelt Park Ranger Station13.3 km (8.2 mi)
- Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc)25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Patuxent Research Refuge?
What time is golden hour at Patuxent Research Refuge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Patuxent Research Refuge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Patuxent Research Refuge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Patuxent Research Refuge?
How far is Patuxent Research Refuge from Maryland City?
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.