USA Clearwater State Recreation Site

Although not featured here, the Clearwater River is an aptly named spring fed river that is highly photogenic during daytime hours. The drive south from Delta Junction to Summit Lake (about 70 miles) is spectacular.

It requires the use of a tripod, and obviously, a clear sky is helpful for Aurora photography. I kept track of the KP index for weeks, which was at level 5 on this night. Shoot in manual mode. White Balance was set at 4000 K. My lens was a Sigma 14mm set at aperture 1.8. ISO was at 1000, although I could’ve gone lower at times with the 1.8 aperture. Shutter speed changed constantly depending on the brightness of the Aurora and how quickly it was moving. On this night, the light was brilliant and in constant motion, so my shutter speed also changed constantly and ranged mostly between 2 and 5 seconds. In-camera noise reduction was OFF.

During the day, arrive as early as possible to enjoy placid water and beat the crowds. The water takes on an emerald shade due to the trees lining the banks.

The park is about 15 minutes east of Delta Junction. There are campsites with picnic tables and vault toilets nearby. Fee area.