Pinus resinosa forest, with Pteridium aquilinum understorey. Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan
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46.2500° N86.1000° WBortle 1Detroit

Seney National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 236°–306°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug
Photo: Hollingsworth, John and Karen · Public domain · source

Seney National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. It sits roughly 34 km (21 mi) NNE of Manistique.

The Seney National Wildlife Refuge is a managed wetland in Schoolcraft County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It has an area of 95,212 acres (385 km2). It is bordered by M-28 and M-77. The nearest town of any size is Seney, Michigan. The refuge contains the Seney Wilderness Area and the Strangmoor Bog National Natural Landmark within its boundaries.From the Wikipedia article “Seney National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Manistique
34 km (21 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
September
68% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
2.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:19 PM
sunset 7:00 PM

Light at Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
8:09 AM
Sunset
6:51 PM
Golden hour AM
7:50 AM – 8:50 AM
Golden hour PM
6:09 PM – 7:10 PM
Blue hour AM
7:38 AM – 7:50 AM
Blue hour PM
7:10 PM – 7:21 PM
Full darkness
8:31 PM – 6:30 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
4:25 PM / 1:45 AM
Day length
10h 42m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Detroit. 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 Seney National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:48 AM90° E7:57 PM271° W44°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:53 AM54° NE9:41 PM306° NW67°15h 47m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:32 AM89° E7:44 PM271° W44°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)8:25 AM124° SE5:01 PM236° SW20°8h 36m

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
January7:50 AM8:24 AM9:12 AM4:37 PM5:25 PM5:59 PM9h 01m
February7:18 AM7:49 AM8:31 AM5:28 PM6:10 PM6:41 PM10h 22m
March7:28 AM7:58 AM8:38 AM7:10 PM7:50 PM8:20 PM11h 52m
April6:27 AM6:58 AM7:39 AM7:51 PM8:32 PM9:03 PM13h 33m
May5:37 AM6:12 AM6:56 AM8:27 PM9:11 PM9:46 PM14h 58m
June5:14 AM5:53 AM6:39 AM8:52 PM9:39 PM10:17 PM15h 46m
July5:31 AM6:08 AM6:53 AM8:49 PM9:34 PM10:11 PM15h 26m
August6:11 AM6:44 AM7:26 AM8:14 PM8:55 PM9:28 PM14h 11m
September6:53 AM7:23 AM8:03 AM7:18 PM7:58 PM8:28 PM12h 35m
October7:32 AM8:02 AM8:43 AM6:19 PM7:00 PM7:30 PM10h 58m
November7:14 AM7:46 AM8:32 AM4:28 PM5:13 PM5:46 PM9h 27m
December7:47 AM8:21 AM9:12 AM4:09 PM4:59 PM5:34 PM8h 38m

Local time (America/Detroit), 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 Seney National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
March6:00 AM – 6:10 AM0.211°SSE → SSE
April4:02 AM – 5:02 AM1.014°SSE → SSE
May1:56 AM – 3:46 AM1.815°SSE → S
June12:23 AM – 3:03 AM2.715°SSE → SSW
July12:03 AM – 1:53 AM1.815°S → SSW
August10:54 PM – 11:44 PM0.814°SSW → SSW
September9:41 PM – 9:51 PM0.211°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-20°—

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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 3.5+ 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 68% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (81%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F404567698082908583776353
Low °F-12-17-12102833414535258-5
Precip. (in)2.52.32.23.13.53.73.62.94.14.53.13.0

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

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 Seney National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Manistique LakeLake
Manistique Lake24 km away · Mackinac County · 210 m
Sand Dunes
Gulliver Lake Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)31 km away · Schoolcraft County
Palms Book State ParkState Park
Palms Book State Park34 km away · Schoolcraft County
Manistique East Breakwater LightLighthouse
Manistique East Breakwater Light36 km away · Schoolcraft County
Sand Dunes
Seiners Point Dune and Swale Complex (Major)37 km away · Mackinac County
Sand Dunes
Thompson Dune and Swale Complex (Major)38 km away · Schoolcraft County
Indian Lake State ParkState Park
Indian Lake State Park38 km away · Schoolcraft County
Beaver Basin WildernessWilderness Area
Beaver Basin Wilderness39 km away · Alger County
Seul Choix LightLighthouse
Seul Choix Light39 km away · Schoolcraft County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Seney National Wildlife Refuge?
September 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 Seney National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:19 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:00 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:43 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Seney National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 54° in June to 124° in December; sunset ranges from 306° to 236°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Seney National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from April to August on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Seney 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 Seney National Wildlife Refuge from Manistique?
About 34 km (21 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.