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44.7917° N71.0833° WBortle 2New York

Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Coos County, New Hampshire

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 237°–305°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: Hollingsworth John and Karen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · source

Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Coos County, New Hampshire. It sits roughly 26 km (16 mi) NNE of Milan.

Located in Coös County, New Hampshire, and Oxford County, Maine, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is a northern treasure in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The diversity of exceptional habitats provides excellent breeding and foraging areas for migratory birds, endangered species, resident wildlife, and rare plants. The refuge protects over 25,650 acres (103.8 km2) of wetland and forested upland habitat along Umbagog Lake. About 70% of its area is in New Hampshire and 30% in Maine.From the Wikipedia article “Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Milan
26 km (16 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
September
56% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
3.3 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:21 PM
sunset 6:01 PM

Light at Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:07 AM
Sunset
5:53 PM
Golden hour AM
6:48 AM – 7:47 AM
Golden hour PM
5:12 PM – 6:11 PM
Blue hour AM
6:37 AM – 6:48 AM
Blue hour PM
6:11 PM – 6:23 PM
Full darkness
7:30 PM – 5:30 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:21 PM / 12:46 AM
Day length
10h 46m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. 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 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:48 AM90° E6:57 PM271° W45°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)4:59 AM55° NE8:35 PM305° NW69°15h 35m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:32 AM89° E6:44 PM271° W46°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:19 AM123° ESE4:07 PM237° WSW22°8h 47m

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
January6:46 AM7:19 AM8:05 AM3:43 PM4:30 PM5:02 PM9h 11m
February6:16 AM6:46 AM7:27 AM4:32 PM5:13 PM5:43 PM10h 27m
March6:29 AM6:58 AM7:37 AM6:12 PM6:50 PM7:20 PM11h 53m
April5:30 AM6:01 AM6:40 AM6:50 PM7:29 PM8:00 PM13h 29m
May4:43 AM5:17 AM5:59 AM7:24 PM8:06 PM8:40 PM14h 49m
June4:22 AM4:59 AM5:44 AM7:48 PM8:33 PM9:10 PM15h 34m
July4:37 AM5:13 AM5:57 AM7:45 PM8:29 PM9:04 PM15h 15m
August5:15 AM5:47 AM6:28 AM7:12 PM7:52 PM8:24 PM14h 05m
September5:54 AM6:24 AM7:02 AM6:19 PM6:57 PM7:27 PM12h 33m
October6:31 AM7:00 AM7:40 AM5:21 PM6:01 PM6:31 PM11h 01m
November6:11 AM6:42 AM7:26 AM3:33 PM4:18 PM4:49 PM9h 35m
December6:42 AM7:16 AM8:04 AM3:16 PM4:05 PM4:38 PM8h 49m

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 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-4°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—7°—
March4:48 AM – 5:18 AM0.513°SSE → SSE
April2:46 AM – 4:06 AM1.316°SSE → S
May12:43 AM – 3:03 AM2.316°SSE → S
June11:02 PM – 2:22 AM3.316°SSE → SSW
July10:47 PM – 1:07 AM2.316°S → SSW
August9:46 PM – 11:06 PM1.315°SSW → SSW
September8:37 PM – 9:07 PM0.512°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—7°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-3°—
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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.85 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 56% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (78%). 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 °F506070758387899283766555
Low °F-27-32-217243343412820-4-22
Precip. (in)2.63.03.03.84.25.34.54.33.65.03.73.9

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

  • 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.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

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 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Umbagog LakeLake
Umbagog Lake5.3 km away · Coos County · 379 m
Mollidgewock State ParkState Park
Mollidgewock State Park7.6 km away · Coos County
Waterfall
Ellingwood Falls9.8 km away · Coos County · 434 m
Umbagog Lake State ParkState Park
Umbagog Lake State Park10 km away · Coos County
Bennett-Bean Covered BridgeCovered Bridge
Bennett-Bean Covered Bridge15 km away · Oxford County
Dixville Notch State ParkState Park
Dixville Notch State Park18 km away · Coos County
Waterfall
Dunn Falls21 km away · Oxford County · 399 m
Grafton NotchMountain Pass
Grafton Notch24 km away · Oxford County · 488 m
Waterfall
The Cataracts24 km away · Oxford County · 358 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Umbagog 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 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:21 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:01 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:40 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 55° in June to 123° in December; sunset ranges from 305° to 237°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Umbagog 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 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge from Milan?
About 26 km (16 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.