McNary National Wildlife Refuge — a national wildlife refuge in Walla Walla County, Washington — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 4.5 km (2.8 mi) E of Burbank.
McNary National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve, one of the national wildlife refuges operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Extending along the east bank of the Columbia River in southeastern Washington, from the confluence of the Snake River to the mouth of the Walla Walla River, and downstream into Oregon, McNary NWR is located in rural Burbank, but very close to the rapid development of the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland). In fact, the refuge meets the definition of an "urban refuge". Few areas in North America support waterfowl populations in the extraordinary numbers found here. There are spectacular concentrations of Canada geese, mallards, and other waterfowl. More than half the mallards in the Pacific Flyway overwinter at some time in this portion of the Columbia River Basin.From the Wikipedia article “McNary National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At McNary National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:05 AM | 54° NE | 8:52 PM | 306° NW | 67° | 15h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:43 AM | 89° E | 6:55 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 124° SE | 4:13 PM | 236° SW | 20° | 8h 37m |
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 | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:23 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:37 PM | 5:10 PM | 9h 02m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 22m |
| March | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:22 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:32 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:38 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:14 PM | 13h 33m |
| May | 4:49 AM | 5:24 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 58m |
| June | 4:26 AM | 5:04 AM | 5:51 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:29 PM | 15h 45m |
| July | 4:43 AM | 5:20 AM | 6:05 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:22 PM | 15h 25m |
| August | 5:23 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:39 PM | 14h 11m |
| September | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:14 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:39 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:41 PM | 10h 57m |
| November | 6:25 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:44 AM | 3:39 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:57 PM | 9h 27m |
| December | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:23 AM | 3:21 PM | 4:11 PM | 4:46 PM | 8h 38m |
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 McNary National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 5:12 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:14 AM – 4:14 AM | 1.0 | 14° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:08 AM – 2:58 AM | 1.8 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:35 PM – 2:15 AM | 2.7 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:15 PM – 1:05 AM | 1.8 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:06 PM – 10:56 PM | 0.8 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:53 PM – 9:03 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| December | Below 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.06 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (79%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 63 | 64 | 76 | 88 | 98 | 108 | 108 | 108 | 103 | 85 | 70 | 63 |
| Low °F | -3 | 7 | 14 | 27 | 33 | 43 | 50 | 48 | 35 | 20 | 14 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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 McNary National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.
Ghost Town
State Park
Rock Formation
Lighthouse
Wilderness Area
Mountain Peak
Mountain Pass
Mountain Peak
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Hood Park4.8 km (3.0 mi) · reservable
- Charbonneau Park And Campground10.7 km (6.6 mi) · reservable
- Fishhook Park19.6 km (12.2 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph McNary National Wildlife Refuge?
What time is golden hour at McNary National Wildlife Refuge?
Where does the sun rise and set at McNary National Wildlife Refuge?
Can you see the Milky Way from McNary National Wildlife Refuge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at McNary National Wildlife Refuge?
How far is McNary National Wildlife Refuge from Burbank?
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.