Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, MO November 2011 Photo: USFWS
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39.2670° N90.7843° WBortle 3Chicago

Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge

National Wildlife Refuge in Pike County, Missouri

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 240°–302°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters · Public domain · source

Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Pike County, Missouri — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 11.2 km (7.0 mi) N of Elsberry.

The 3,750-acre (15.2 km2) Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge is located in the floodplain of the Mississippi River, adjacent to Pool No. 25 in Pike County, Missouri. The refuge's diversity of habitats supports waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and songbirds. Although it is protected by a levee, the refuge provides flood storage in periods of high water. Clarence Cannon Refuge is managed by Great River National Wildlife Refuge, which is part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex.From the Wikipedia article “Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Elsberry
11.2 km (7.0 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
42% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:49 PM
sunset 6:26 PM

Light at Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:19 AM
Sunset
6:19 PM
Golden hour AM
7:02 AM – 7:55 AM
Golden hour PM
5:42 PM – 6:35 PM
Blue hour AM
6:51 AM – 7:02 AM
Blue hour PM
6:35 PM – 6:46 PM
Full darkness
7:48 PM – 5:50 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:31 PM / 1:21 AM
Day length
11h 00m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
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 Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 27° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:07 AM90° E7:15 PM271° W51°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:38 AM58° ENE8:34 PM302° WNW74°14h 56m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:51 AM89° E7:02 PM271° W51°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:20 AM120° ESE4:44 PM240° WSW27°9h 24m

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
January6:52 AM7:22 AM8:03 AM4:24 PM5:04 PM5:34 PM9h 43m
February6:29 AM6:56 AM7:33 AM5:03 PM5:40 PM6:08 PM10h 44m
March6:49 AM7:15 AM7:51 AM6:35 PM7:10 PM7:37 PM11h 55m
April5:59 AM6:27 AM7:03 AM7:05 PM7:41 PM8:08 PM13h 14m
May5:20 AM5:51 AM6:29 AM7:32 PM8:10 PM8:40 PM14h 19m
June5:05 AM5:37 AM6:17 AM7:52 PM8:32 PM9:04 PM14h 55m
July5:18 AM5:50 AM6:29 AM7:50 PM8:30 PM9:01 PM14h 40m
August5:48 AM6:17 AM6:54 AM7:23 PM8:00 PM8:29 PM13h 43m
September6:18 AM6:45 AM7:20 AM6:38 PM7:13 PM7:40 PM12h 28m
October6:46 AM7:13 AM7:50 AM5:49 PM6:26 PM6:53 PM11h 12m
November6:19 AM6:47 AM7:27 AM4:10 PM4:50 PM5:18 PM10h 02m
December6:46 AM7:16 AM7:59 AM4:00 PM4:42 PM5:12 PM9h 25m

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 Clarence Cannon National Wildlife 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:10 AM – 5:20 AM0.212°SE → SE
March4:20 AM – 5:40 AM1.318°SE → SSE
April2:16 AM – 4:46 AM2.522°SE → S
May12:18 AM – 3:58 AM3.722°SE → S
June10:32 PM – 3:32 AM5.022°SE → SSW
July10:24 PM – 2:04 AM3.722°SSE → SW
August9:40 PM – 12:10 AM2.521°S → SW
September8:44 PM – 10:04 PM1.318°SSW → SW
October7:55 PM – 8:05 PM0.212°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
DecemberBelow 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 ≈ 21.49 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (66%). 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 °F6774798792107109106104948172
Low °F-15-10-1193346504836219-12
Precip. (in)2.02.22.94.24.74.73.83.73.23.42.62.4

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 Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

National Wildlife Refuge
Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge18 km away · Calhoun County
Ghost Town
Burr Oak23 km away · Lincoln County
National Wildlife Refuge
Great River National Wildlife Refuge25 km away · Pike County
Cuivre River State ParkState Park
Cuivre River State Park29 km away · Lincoln County
Natural Arch
Sandy Creek Natural Bridge29 km away · Lincoln County
Two Rivers National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge29 km away · Calhoun County
State Park
Pere Marquette State Park37 km away · Calhoun County
Ghost Town
Mashek39 km away · Lincoln County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Clarence Cannon 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 Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:49 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:26 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:50 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 120° in December; sunset ranges from 302° to 240°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Clarence Cannon 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 Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge from Elsberry?
About 11.2 km (7.0 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.