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44.1832° N124.1221° WBortle 2Los Angeles

Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Lane County, Oregon

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 237°–305°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep

Located in Lane County, Oregon, Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge. It sits roughly 22 km (14 mi) N of Florence.

Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the southwestern Oregon Coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Oregon Islands provides wilderness protection to 1,853 small islands, rocks, and reefs plus two headlands, totaling 371 acres (150 ha) spanning 1,083 acres (438 ha) of Oregon's coastline from the Oregon–California border to Tillamook Head. There are sites in six of the seven coastal counties of Oregon. From north to south they are Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Coos, and Curry counties. (Douglas County is the only coastal Oregon county not included in the refuge.) The area is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.From the Wikipedia article “Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Florence
22 km (14 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
September
65% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
3.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:54 PM
sunset 6:34 PM

Light at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:38 AM
Sunset
6:26 PM
Golden hour AM
7:20 AM – 8:18 AM
Golden hour PM
5:46 PM – 6:44 PM
Blue hour AM
7:09 AM – 7:20 AM
Blue hour PM
6:44 PM – 6:55 PM
Full darkness
8:02 PM – 6:03 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:55 PM / 1:29 AM
Day length
10h 47m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
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 Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (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)7:20 AM90° E7:29 PM271° W46°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:34 AM56° NE9:04 PM305° NW69°15h 31m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:04 AM89° E7:16 PM271° W46°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:50 AM123° ESE4:41 PM237° WSW22°8h 52m

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
January7:17 AM7:49 AM8:35 AM4:18 PM5:04 PM5:36 PM9h 15m
February6:47 AM7:17 AM7:58 AM5:05 PM5:46 PM6:16 PM10h 29m
March7:01 AM7:30 AM8:08 AM6:45 PM7:23 PM7:52 PM11h 53m
April6:03 AM6:33 AM7:12 AM7:22 PM8:01 PM8:31 PM13h 27m
May5:17 AM5:51 AM6:33 AM7:55 PM8:37 PM9:10 PM14h 46m
June4:57 AM5:33 AM6:18 AM8:18 PM9:02 PM9:39 PM15h 29m
July5:12 AM5:48 AM6:31 AM8:15 PM8:58 PM9:34 PM15h 11m
August5:49 AM6:21 AM7:01 AM7:43 PM8:23 PM8:54 PM14h 02m
September6:27 AM6:56 AM7:35 AM6:51 PM7:29 PM7:58 PM12h 32m
October7:03 AM7:32 AM8:11 AM5:54 PM6:34 PM7:03 PM11h 02m
November6:42 AM7:13 AM7:57 AM4:07 PM4:51 PM5:22 PM9h 38m
December7:13 AM7:46 AM8:33 AM3:52 PM4:39 PM5:12 PM8h 53m

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 Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
March5:09 AM – 5:49 AM0.713°SSE → SSE
April3:06 AM – 4:36 AM1.516°SSE → S
May1:12 AM – 3:42 AM2.517°SSE → S
June11:29 PM – 2:59 AM3.517°SSE → SSW
July11:14 PM – 1:44 AM2.517°S → SSW
August10:15 PM – 11:45 PM1.516°S → SSW
September9:07 PM – 9:37 PM0.513°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
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 ≈ 21.76 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ 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 65% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (83%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F576061687272716871676260
Low °F323236404449505250393530
Precip. (in)8.66.26.74.52.51.60.50.62.04.78.610.3

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.

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 Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Scenic Viewpoint
Muriel O Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint1.5 km away · Lane County · 16 m
Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic ViewpointState Park
Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint1.5 km away · Lane County
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State ParkState Park
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park2.8 km away · Lane County
Tokatee Klootchman State Natural SiteState Park
Tokatee Klootchman State Natural Site2.8 km away · Lane County
Stonefield Beach State Recreation SiteState Park
Stonefield Beach State Recreation Site4.7 km away · Lane County
Scenic Viewpoint
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint4.9 km away · Lane County · 104 m
Heceta Head LightLighthouse
Heceta Head Light5.1 km away · Lane County
Rock Creek WildernessWilderness Area
Rock Creek Wilderness5.3 km away · Lane County
Neptune State Scenic ViewpointState Park
Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint8.7 km away · Lane County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Oregon Islands 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 Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:54 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:34 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:11 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 56° 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 Oregon Islands 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 Oregon Islands 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 Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge from Florence?
About 22 km (14 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.