The white pelican is the largest of all pelicans; with a 10-foot wingspan weighing in around 20 pounds.Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of the
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47.0228° N99.4444° WBortle 1Chicago

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Kidder County, North Dakota

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 236°–307°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie · CC BY 2.0 · source

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Kidder County, North Dakota — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Carrington, about 53 km (33 mi) away (Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies SSW of town).

Wikidata describes it as: “wildlife reserve in North Dakota, United States”.

Nearest town
Carrington
53 km (33 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
July
46% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
2.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:10 PM
sunset 6:52 PM

Light at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
8:03 AM
Sunset
6:43 PM
Golden hour AM
7:44 AM – 8:46 AM
Golden hour PM
6:01 PM – 7:02 PM
Blue hour AM
7:33 AM – 7:44 AM
Blue hour PM
7:02 PM – 7:14 PM
Full darkness
8:25 PM – 6:23 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
4:21 PM / 1:38 AM
Day length
10h 39m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
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 Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 20° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:42 AM89° E7:50 PM271° W43°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:43 AM53° NE9:37 PM307° NW66°15h 54m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:25 AM89° E7:37 PM271° W43°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)8:22 AM125° SE4:52 PM236° SW20°8h 30m

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
January7:46 AM8:20 AM9:09 AM4:26 PM5:16 PM5:50 PM8h 56m
February7:12 AM7:43 AM8:27 AM5:19 PM6:02 PM6:34 PM10h 19m
March7:21 AM7:52 AM8:32 AM7:03 PM7:43 PM8:14 PM11h 52m
April6:19 AM6:51 AM7:31 AM7:45 PM8:26 PM8:58 PM13h 36m
May5:27 AM6:03 AM6:48 AM8:22 PM9:07 PM9:43 PM15h 04m
June5:03 AM5:43 AM6:30 AM8:48 PM9:35 PM10:15 PM15h 52m
July5:20 AM5:58 AM6:44 AM8:44 PM9:30 PM10:08 PM15h 32m
August6:02 AM6:36 AM7:18 AM8:08 PM8:51 PM9:24 PM14h 15m
September6:46 AM7:16 AM7:56 AM7:11 PM7:52 PM8:22 PM12h 35m
October7:26 AM7:56 AM8:38 AM6:10 PM6:52 PM7:23 PM10h 56m
November7:09 AM7:42 AM8:29 AM4:18 PM5:05 PM5:38 PM9h 23m
December7:42 AM8:18 AM9:10 AM3:58 PM4:50 PM5:25 PM8h 32m

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 Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° 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°—
March6:06 AM – 6:06 AM0.011°SSE → SSE
April3:59 AM – 4:49 AM0.813°SSE → SSE
May2:06 AM – 3:36 AM1.514°SSE → S
June12:31 AM – 2:41 AM2.214°SSE → SSW
July12:06 AM – 1:36 AM1.514°S → SSW
August10:53 PM – 11:33 PM0.713°SSW → SSW
SeptemberBelow 10° in darkness—10°—
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—5°—
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 July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (67%). 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 °F4861778691106104102101877051
Low °F-40-32-201203744402811-9-28
Precip. (in)0.60.51.01.43.13.72.92.32.21.60.60.7

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 Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Wilderness Area
Chase Lake Wilderness1.7 km away · Kidder County
National Wildlife Refuge
Half-Way Lake National Wildlife Refuge23 km away · Stutsman County
National Wildlife Refuge
Slade National Wildlife Refuge29 km away · Kidder County
National Wildlife Refuge
Lake George National Wildlife Refuge33 km away · Stutsman County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
July 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 Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:10 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:52 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:38 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 53° in June to 125° in December; sunset ranges from 307° to 236°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Chase Lake 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 Chase Lake 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 Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge from Carrington?
About 53 km (33 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata. 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.