Photo Credit: Tom Koerner/USFWS
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43.0989° N101.5860° WBortle 1Denver

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Bennett County, South Dakota

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 238°–304°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie · CC BY 2.0 · source

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Bennett County, South Dakota. It sits roughly 14.4 km (8.9 mi) SE of Martin.

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States located in South Dakota. It covers 16,570 acres (67 km2) and is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Early conservation work to protect the area was performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. A combination of wetlands, meadows and small stands of planted trees in the upland sections provide habitat for a wide variety of species. Much of the refuge has a series of low dikes that help to maintain some areas in a prolonged wetland state, increasing wildlife habitat, especially for migratory bird species. The refuge borders the Nebraska Sandhills, which are a source of water runoff into the early summer.From the Wikipedia article “Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Martin
14.4 km (8.9 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
September
41% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
4.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:26 PM
sunset 6:05 PM

Light at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:07 AM
Sunset
5:57 PM
Golden hour AM
6:49 AM – 7:46 AM
Golden hour PM
5:18 PM – 6:15 PM
Blue hour AM
6:38 AM – 6:49 AM
Blue hour PM
6:15 PM – 6:26 PM
Full darkness
7:32 PM – 5:33 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:21 PM / 12:58 AM
Day length
10h 50m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. 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 Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:50 AM90° E6:59 PM271° W47°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:08 AM56° NE8:30 PM304° NW70°15h 22m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:34 AM89° E6:45 PM271° W47°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:16 AM122° ESE4:15 PM238° WSW23°8h 59m

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
January6:44 AM7:16 AM8:00 AM3:53 PM4:37 PM5:08 PM9h 21m
February6:16 AM6:45 AM7:25 AM4:38 PM5:18 PM5:47 PM10h 33m
March6:31 AM6:59 AM7:37 AM6:15 PM6:53 PM7:21 PM11h 54m
April5:35 AM6:05 AM6:43 AM6:51 PM7:29 PM7:59 PM13h 24m
May4:51 AM5:24 AM6:05 AM7:23 PM8:03 PM8:36 PM14h 40m
June4:32 AM5:07 AM5:50 AM7:45 PM8:28 PM9:04 PM15h 21m
July4:47 AM5:21 AM6:03 AM7:43 PM8:25 PM8:59 PM15h 04m
August5:22 AM5:53 AM6:32 AM7:11 PM7:51 PM8:21 PM13h 58m
September5:58 AM6:27 AM7:04 AM6:21 PM6:58 PM7:27 PM12h 31m
October6:32 AM7:00 AM7:39 AM5:26 PM6:05 PM6:34 PM11h 05m
November6:09 AM6:40 AM7:23 AM3:41 PM4:24 PM4:55 PM9h 44m
December6:40 AM7:12 AM7:58 AM3:27 PM4:13 PM4:45 PM9h 01m

Local time (America/Denver), 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 Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° 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—-4°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—9°—
March4:27 AM – 5:17 AM0.815°SSE → SSE
April2:31 AM – 4:11 AM1.717°SSE → S
May12:33 AM – 3:13 AM2.718°SSE → S
June10:45 PM – 2:45 AM4.018°SSE → SSW
July10:34 PM – 1:24 AM2.818°S → SSW
August9:39 PM – 11:19 PM1.717°S → SSW
September8:35 PM – 9:25 PM0.814°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—9°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.94 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ 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 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 °F65748491100109114110105938167
Low °F-11-9-1310254251473443-14
Precip. (in)0.40.61.02.23.13.02.22.01.61.30.60.5

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.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Lacreek 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 Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:26 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:05 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:39 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 56° in June to 122° in December; sunset ranges from 304° to 238°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lacreek 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 Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge from Martin?
About 14.4 km (8.9 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.