Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. West over Bayou Heron "alligator alley" showing pilings from old logging road bridge in center of photo.[1]
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30.4158° N88.4197° WBortle 4Chicago

Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County, Mississippi

  • Bortle 4 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 243°–298°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: P. R. Hoar, NOAA/NESDIS/NCDDC · Public domain · source

Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Jackson County, Mississippi — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Grand Bay, about 10.0 km (6.2 mi) away (Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge lies SW of town).

Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 under the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 to protect one of the largest expanses of undisturbed pine savanna habitats in the Gulf Coastal Plain region. The refuge is located near Grand Bay, Alabama in Mobile County, Alabama and Jackson County, Mississippi, and when complete will encompass over 32,000 acres (130 km2). The refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. The Refuge Complex Manager also administers the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Access to refuge lands (especially interior portions) is limited, but is available mostly on the Mississippi side and by boat.From the Wikipedia article “Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Grand Bay
10.0 km (6.2 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 4
Rural / suburban transition
Clearest month
October
40% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:51 PM
sunset 6:24 PM

Light at Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:00 AM
Sunset
6:18 PM
Golden hour AM
6:45 AM – 7:32 AM
Golden hour PM
5:46 PM – 6:33 PM
Blue hour AM
6:35 AM – 6:45 AM
Blue hour PM
6:33 PM – 6:43 PM
Full darkness
7:39 PM – 5:40 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:07 PM / 1:29 AM
Day length
11h 19m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. 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 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:58 AM90° E7:06 PM271° W59°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:53 AM62° ENE8:00 PM298° WNW83°14h 07m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:43 AM89° E6:52 PM271° W60°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:47 AM117° ESE4:58 PM243° WSW36°10h 11m

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
January6:26 AM6:52 AM7:27 AM4:40 PM5:16 PM5:41 PM10h 24m
February6:10 AM6:35 AM7:08 AM5:09 PM5:42 PM6:07 PM11h 07m
March6:41 AM7:05 AM7:36 AM6:31 PM7:02 PM7:26 PM11h 58m
April6:02 AM6:27 AM6:59 AM6:49 PM7:22 PM7:46 PM12h 54m
May5:34 AM6:00 AM6:34 AM7:08 PM7:41 PM8:08 PM13h 41m
June5:24 AM5:52 AM6:27 AM7:23 PM7:58 PM8:26 PM14h 06m
July5:35 AM6:02 AM6:37 AM7:23 PM7:58 PM8:25 PM13h 56m
August5:56 AM6:21 AM6:54 AM7:04 PM7:37 PM8:02 PM13h 16m
September6:15 AM6:39 AM7:11 AM6:29 PM7:01 PM7:25 PM12h 22m
October6:32 AM6:56 AM7:29 AM5:51 PM6:24 PM6:48 PM11h 27m
November5:55 AM6:20 AM6:55 AM4:23 PM4:58 PM5:23 PM10h 38m
December6:17 AM6:44 AM7:20 AM4:19 PM4:56 PM5:22 PM10h 12m

Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
February4:14 AM – 5:14 AM1.019°SE → SE
March3:23 AM – 5:43 AM2.327°SE → SSE
April1:26 AM – 4:56 AM3.531°SE → S
May11:23 PM – 4:23 AM5.031°SE → SSW
June9:36 PM – 4:06 AM6.531°SE → SW
July9:33 PM – 2:43 AM5.231°SSE → SW
August9:04 PM – 12:44 AM3.731°S → SW
September8:22 PM – 10:42 PM2.328°SSW → SW
October7:44 PM – 8:44 PM1.019°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—4°—
DecemberBelow 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.02 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (61%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F747782869599989995948576
Low °F212829424866696356423028
Precip. (in)3.95.04.55.04.76.86.87.15.64.13.25.5

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

  • 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.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.

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 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Round Island LightLighthouse
Round Island Light14 km away · Jackson County
East Pascagoula River LightLighthouse
East Pascagoula River Light16 km away · Jackson County
Horn Island LightLighthouse
Horn Island Light22 km away · Jackson County
Scenic Viewpoint
Hilda Lookout Tower22 km away · Jackson County · 7 m
Bellingrath Gardens and HomeBotanical Garden
Bellingrath Gardens and Home27 km away · Mobile County
BrewtonGhost Town
Brewton33 km away · Jackson County
Beach
Bienville Beach34 km away · Mobile County
National Wildlife Refuge
Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge35 km away · Jackson County
Scenic Viewpoint
Observation Deck36 km away · Jackson County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
October 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 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:51 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:24 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:29 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 62° in June to 117° in December; sunset ranges from 298° to 243°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Grand Bay 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 Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge from Grand Bay?
About 10.0 km (6.2 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.