Swampwalk Nature Trail Closure

Due to the significant repairs that must be done the Swampwalk Nature Trail, also known as the boardwalk is closed. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check back for future updates.

Mingo Visitor Center framed by redbuds (Cercis canadensis) on a cloudy day
Mingo NWR Springtime Hours

The Visitor Center will have modified hours this Spring! It will be open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10am-4pm. It will also be open on Monday, April 8th for the solar eclipse. After the eclipse the Visitor Center will resume normal springtime hours. 

Springtime hours start Wednesday, March 13th through Saturday, May 11th. 

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge abandon Mine
Pilot Knob Guided Hikes

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge hikes are coming soon. Come see the famous "Devil's Icebox" - one of the largest Indiana Bat hibernacula in Missouri. 

Two dates available to register:

Saturday, April 13th and Wednesday, April 17th.

Contact the Mingo Visitor Center at 573-222-3580 or by email at michael_beltz@fws.gov.

Moon and sun in a total eclipse
Solar Eclipse Hours at Mingo Refuge

The visitor center at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri will be open on Monday, April 8th, 2024 for the eclipse. There are no plans for programs. For more information contact the Visitor Center at 573-222-3580. 

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge provides a number of great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The mixture of bottomland forests, wetlands and swamps creates great waterways for canoeing and kayaking, and has miles of wildlife drives, a variety of hiking trails, and prime locations for hunting and fishing.

Visit Us

Find the Refuge Bird Count Here

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visiting Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is an opportunity to see how much of southeast Missouri appeared before development, when 2.5 million acres were bottomland hardwood forest and cypress-tupelo swamp. This rich habitat supports many species of wildlife and provides us the chance to appreciate them in a variety of ways.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Mingo National Wildlife Refuge consists of 21,592 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-tupelo swamp, marsh and upland forest ecosystems. The refuge is managed for wildlife habitat and people. The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl and to protect the bottomland hardwood forest.

      What We Do

      The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge.

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.

      Our Species

      The habitat at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge provides resources for a large variety of common and rare animals and has served as a site for supporting threatened and endangered species. A total of 279 resident and migratory bird species, 38 mammal species, 30 species of amphibian and reptiles and nearly 50 species of fish use the refuge throughout the year.

      Bald eagle up close with wing raised

      A large raptor, the bald eagle has a wingspread of about seven feet. Adults have a dark brown body and wings, white head and tail, and a yellow beak. Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling on the body, tail, and undersides of wings. Adult plumage usually is obtained by the sixth year. In...

      FWS Focus

      Our Library

      Visitor Center Hours News Release Oct 2022

      Temporary Visitor Center Hours Changes.