Spanish Dagger (Yucca treculeana) growing in grassland at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge showing Gulf coastal grassland and prairie habitat. Cameron C
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26.2836° N97.3850° WBortle 3Chicago

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 244°–297°
  • Clearest: August
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: William L. Farr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Cameron County, Texas — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Rio Hondo, about 20 km (13 mi) away (Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge lies ENE of town).

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The 120,000-acre (49,000 ha) refuge is located almost entirely in Cameron County, Texas, 25 mi (40 km) east of Harlingen, although a very small part of its northernmost point extends into southern Willacy County.From the Wikipedia article “Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Rio Hondo
20 km (13 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
August
33% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
7.2 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:32 PM
sunset 7:03 PM

Light at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:32 AM
Sunset
6:58 PM
Golden hour AM
7:18 AM – 8:03 AM
Golden hour PM
6:27 PM – 7:12 PM
Blue hour AM
7:09 AM – 7:18 AM
Blue hour PM
7:12 PM – 7:21 PM
Full darkness
8:15 PM – 6:15 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:38 PM / 2:13 AM
Day length
11h 26m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
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 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 40° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:34 AM90° E7:41 PM270° W64°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:39 AM63° ENE8:26 PM297° WNW87°13h 47m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:19 AM89° E7:27 PM271° W64°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:14 AM116° ESE5:43 PM244° WSW40°10h 29m

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
January6:55 AM7:19 AM7:53 AM5:26 PM6:00 PM6:25 PM10h 40m
February6:43 AM7:06 AM7:38 AM5:51 PM6:23 PM6:47 PM11h 17m
March7:17 AM7:40 AM8:10 AM7:08 PM7:39 PM8:02 PM11h 59m
April6:43 AM7:07 AM7:38 AM7:23 PM7:54 PM8:17 PM12h 47m
May6:19 AM6:44 AM7:16 AM7:37 PM8:10 PM8:35 PM13h 26m
June6:11 AM6:38 AM7:11 AM7:51 PM8:24 PM8:50 PM13h 47m
July6:21 AM6:47 AM7:20 AM7:52 PM8:25 PM8:51 PM13h 38m
August6:39 AM7:03 AM7:34 AM7:36 PM8:07 PM8:31 PM13h 04m
September6:53 AM7:16 AM7:47 AM7:05 PM7:35 PM7:58 PM12h 19m
October7:06 AM7:29 AM8:00 AM6:32 PM7:03 PM7:26 PM11h 33m
November6:25 AM6:49 AM7:22 AM5:08 PM5:41 PM6:05 PM10h 52m
December6:45 AM7:10 AM7:45 AM5:06 PM5:41 PM6:06 PM10h 30m

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 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 35° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
February4:31 AM – 5:41 AM1.221°SE → SE
March3:46 AM – 6:16 AM2.531°SE → SSE
April1:44 AM – 5:44 AM4.035°SE → S
May11:46 PM – 5:16 AM5.535°SE → SSW
June9:55 PM – 5:05 AM7.235°SE → SW
July9:54 PM – 3:34 AM5.735°SSE → SW
August9:30 PM – 1:40 AM4.235°S → SW
September8:53 PM – 11:33 PM2.732°SSW → SW
October8:20 PM – 9:40 PM1.323°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-17°—

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 ≈ 21.47 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 33% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (67%). August 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 °F879095100100102100100101999186
Low °F343239505671747366504036
Precip. (in)1.01.01.21.32.33.02.81.75.42.41.71.2

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 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Point Isabel LighthouseLighthouse
Point Isabel Lighthouse29 km away · Cameron County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge?
August 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 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:32 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:03 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:00 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 63° in June to 116° in December; sunset ranges from 297° to 244°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Laguna Atascosa 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 Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge from Rio Hondo?
About 20 km (13 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.