Sunset over Currituck Sound at Back Bay.
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36.6500° N75.9333° WBortle 4New York

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in City of Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Bortle 4 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 241°–301°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Lago Mar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in City of Virginia Beach, Virginia — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Virginia Beach, about 23 km (14 mi) away (Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge lies S of town).

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Virginia is located in the independent city of Virginia Beach. Established in 1938 in an isolated portion of the former Princess Anne County, it is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The administrative office is located on Sandbridge Road at Sigma between Lago Mar and Sandbridge Beach. The Visitor Contact Center is accessed via Sandpiper Road from the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach, which is the southernmost area of development on the Atlantic Coast of Virginia.From the Wikipedia article “Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Virginia Beach
23 km (14 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 4
Rural / suburban transition
Clearest month
October
55% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
5.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:54 PM
sunset 6:29 PM

Light at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:16 AM
Sunset
6:22 PM
Golden hour AM
7:00 AM – 7:51 AM
Golden hour PM
5:47 PM – 6:38 PM
Blue hour AM
6:50 AM – 7:00 AM
Blue hour PM
6:38 PM – 6:48 PM
Full darkness
7:48 PM – 5:51 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:25 PM / 1:25 AM
Day length
11h 06m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. 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 Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:08 AM90° E7:16 PM271° W53°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:46 AM60° ENE8:26 PM301° WNW77°14h 40m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:52 AM89° E7:02 PM271° W54°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:13 AM119° ESE4:52 PM241° WSW30°9h 39m

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
January6:48 AM7:16 AM7:55 AM4:33 PM5:12 PM5:40 PM9h 56m
February6:26 AM6:53 AM7:29 AM5:09 PM5:45 PM6:11 PM10h 52m
March6:50 AM7:16 AM7:50 AM6:37 PM7:11 PM7:37 PM11h 56m
April6:04 AM6:31 AM7:05 AM7:03 PM7:38 PM8:05 PM13h 08m
May5:29 AM5:57 AM6:34 AM7:28 PM8:04 PM8:33 PM14h 07m
June5:15 AM5:45 AM6:24 AM7:46 PM8:25 PM8:55 PM14h 39m
July5:28 AM5:57 AM6:35 AM7:46 PM8:23 PM8:53 PM14h 26m
August5:54 AM6:22 AM6:57 AM7:21 PM7:56 PM8:24 PM13h 34m
September6:21 AM6:47 AM7:21 AM6:39 PM7:13 PM7:39 PM12h 26m
October6:46 AM7:12 AM7:46 AM5:54 PM6:29 PM6:55 PM11h 17m
November6:15 AM6:42 AM7:20 AM4:18 PM4:56 PM5:24 PM10h 14m
December6:41 AM7:10 AM7:50 AM4:10 PM4:50 PM5:19 PM9h 40m

Local time (America/New York), 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 Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:52 AM – 5:22 AM0.514°SE → SE
March4:08 AM – 5:48 AM1.721°SE → SSE
April2:00 AM – 4:50 AM2.824°SE → S
May12:07 AM – 4:07 AM4.024°SE → SSW
June10:17 PM – 3:47 AM5.524°SE → SW
July10:11 PM – 2:21 AM4.224°SSE → SW
August9:32 PM – 12:22 AM2.824°S → SW
September8:41 PM – 10:21 PM1.721°SSW → SW
October7:55 PM – 8:25 PM0.514°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—1°—
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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.53 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (73%). 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 °F646568758489909186847368
Low °F231727384660686760473625
Precip. (in)3.43.73.63.53.74.25.15.75.93.93.63.8

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.
  • 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 Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

False Cape State ParkState Park
False Cape State Park8.2 km away · City of Virginia Beach
Sandbridge BeachBeach
Sandbridge Beach11 km away · City of Virginia Beach
Currituck National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Currituck National Wildlife Refuge14 km away · Currituck County
Mackay Island National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge17 km away · Currituck County
Chesapeake ArboretumBotanical Garden
Chesapeake Arboretum29 km away · City of Chesapeake
First Landing State ParkState Park
First Landing State Park29 km away · City of Virginia Beach
Beach
Currituck Beach31 km away · Currituck County
Cape Henry LightLighthouse
Cape Henry Light31 km away · City of Virginia Beach
Currituck Beach LighthouseLighthouse
Currituck Beach Lighthouse32 km away · Currituck County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
October 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 Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:54 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:29 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:46 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 60° in June to 119° in December; sunset ranges from 301° to 241°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Back Bay 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 Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge from Virginia Beach?
About 23 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.