Desert Environment in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.[1] Long-distance view of en:Alluvial fan; (Corn Creek Springs region).
  1. Home
  2. National Wildlife Refuges
  3. Nevada
  4. Desert National Wildlife Refuge
36.7667° N115.4330° WBortle 3Los Angeles

Desert National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Clark County, Nevada

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–301°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: McMahan, David - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · source

Desert National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Clark County, Nevada. It sits roughly 69 km (43 mi) NNW of North Las Vegas.

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located north of Las Vegas, Nevada, in northwestern Clark and southwestern Lincoln counties, with much of its land area lying within the southeastern section of the Nevada Test and Training Range. The Desert NWR, created on May 20, 1936, is the largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states of the United States, encompassing 1.615 million acres (6,540 km2) of the Mojave Desert in the southern part of Nevada. The refuge was originally established at 2.25 million acres. In 1940 840,000 acres were transferred to the Department of Defense. This Range is part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. All of these...From the Wikipedia article “Desert National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
North Las Vegas
69 km (43 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
24% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:31 PM
sunset 6:06 PM

Light at Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
6:54 AM
Sunset
6:00 PM
Golden hour AM
6:38 AM – 7:30 AM
Golden hour PM
5:25 PM – 6:16 PM
Blue hour AM
6:28 AM – 6:38 AM
Blue hour PM
6:16 PM – 6:26 PM
Full darkness
7:26 PM – 5:29 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:06 PM / 1:10 AM
Day length
11h 06m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Los Angeles. 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 Desert National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:46 AM90° E6:54 PM271° W53°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:24 AM60° ENE8:05 PM301° WNW77°14h 41m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:30 AM89° E6:40 PM271° W53°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:51 AM119° ESE4:30 PM241° WSW30°9h 38m

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 AM6:54 AM7:33 AM4:10 PM4:49 PM5:18 PM9h 55m
February6:04 AM6:31 AM7:07 AM4:47 PM5:23 PM5:49 PM10h 52m
March6:28 AM6:54 AM7:28 AM6:15 PM6:49 PM7:15 PM11h 56m
April5:42 AM6:08 AM6:43 AM6:42 PM7:16 PM7:43 PM13h 08m
May5:06 AM5:35 AM6:12 AM7:06 PM7:43 PM8:12 PM14h 08m
June4:52 AM5:23 AM6:02 AM7:25 PM8:03 PM8:34 PM14h 40m
July5:05 AM5:35 AM6:13 AM7:24 PM8:01 PM8:31 PM14h 26m
August5:32 AM6:00 AM6:35 AM6:59 PM7:34 PM8:02 PM13h 35m
September5:59 AM6:25 AM6:59 AM6:17 PM6:51 PM7:17 PM12h 26m
October6:24 AM6:50 AM7:25 AM5:31 PM6:06 PM6:33 PM11h 17m
November5:53 AM6:21 AM6:59 AM3:56 PM4:34 PM5:01 PM10h 13m
December6:19 AM6:48 AM7:28 AM3:47 PM4:28 PM4:56 PM9h 40m

Local time (America/Los Angeles), 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 Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° 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—0°—
February4:30 AM – 5:00 AM0.514°SE → SE
March3:46 AM – 5:26 AM1.721°SE → SSE
April1:38 AM – 4:28 AM2.824°SE → S
May11:45 PM – 3:45 AM4.024°SE → SSW
June9:55 PM – 3:25 AM5.524°SE → SW
July9:49 PM – 1:59 AM4.224°SSE → SW
August9:10 PM – 12:00 AM2.824°S → SW
September8:19 PM – 9:59 PM1.721°SSW → SW
October7:33 PM – 8:03 PM0.514°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
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 ≈ 21.57 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 24% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (50%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F72738289100107106105103917968
Low °F81622233138555137201911
Precip. (in)0.81.10.50.40.20.10.70.60.40.50.50.8

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

  • 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.
  • 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 Desert National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Mountain Pass
Indian Springs Pass31 km away · Clark County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Desert 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 Desert National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:31 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:06 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:25 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Desert National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 301° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Desert National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Desert 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 Desert National Wildlife Refuge from North Las Vegas?
About 69 km (43 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.