Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Comanche County, Oklahoma — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 16.6 km (10.3 mi) NNW of Cache.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, located in southwestern Oklahoma near Lawton, has protected unique wildlife habitats since 1901 and is the oldest managed wildlife facility in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service system. The refuge's location in the geologically unique Wichita Mountains and its areas of undisturbed mixed grass prairie make it an important conservation area. The Wichita Mountains are approximately 500 million years old. Measuring about 59,020 acres (238.8 km2), the refuge hosts a great diversity of species: 806 plant species, 240 species of birds, 36 fish, and 64 reptiles and amphibians are present.From the Wikipedia article “Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:23 AM | 61° ENE | 8:52 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 29m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:24 AM | 89° E | 7:33 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:39 AM | 118° ESE | 5:28 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 49m |
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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:15 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:20 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 05m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:44 PM | 10h 57m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:20 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:08 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:38 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 6:05 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:31 PM | 8:59 PM | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:52 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:59 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:20 PM | 14h 29m |
| July | 6:04 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:10 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 16m |
| August | 6:29 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:51 PM | 13h 28m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:27 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:54 PM | 9h 50m |
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 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:13 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:27 AM – 6:17 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:50 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:37 PM – 4:27 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 3:02 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 1:07 AM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 9:09 PM – 10:59 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:25 PM – 9:05 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.66 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (53%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 78 | 86 | 92 | 100 | 103 | 113 | 113 | 114 | 107 | 96 | 86 | 81 |
| Low °F | 9 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 36 | 57 | 62 | 58 | 47 | 22 | 17 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
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 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, closest first.
Canyon
Natural Arch
Wilderness Area
Mountain Peak
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
What time is golden hour at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
Where does the sun rise and set at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
Can you see the Milky Way from Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
How far is Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge from Cache?
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.