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Plan Your Visit

Below are links to pdf versions of refuge publications which you can read or download.You will need Adobe Reader software to open the pdf documents below. If you do not have this software, you may obtain it free of charge by following the link above.

Refuge Map (pdf 463 KB)     Nature Programs (pdf 683 KB)    Wildlife Observation Fact Sheet (pdf 179 KB)
Bird List (pdf 1.02MB)    Mammal List (pdf 1.62 MB)
Sport Fishing Fact Sheet (pdf 287 KB)     Trapping Fact Sheet (pdf 204 KB)    Deer Hunting Fact Sheet (pdf 1.09 MB)
Waterfowl Hunting Fact Sheet (pdf 966 KB)   Turkey Hunting Fact Sheet (pdf 972KB)
Youth Turkey Hunt Fact Sheet (pdf 972 KB)   Young Waterfowlers Program Fact Sheet (pdf 238 KB)
Small Game and Other Migratory Bird Hunting Fact Sheet (pdf 969 KB)        

Driving Directions

There is no entrance fee to get into Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge office/visitor contact station is open Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm year-round, except holidays. The office is open on weekends spring and fall. Please, call 585-948-5445 to confirm dates. Maps are available from brochure racks attached to the kiosk in the parking area after hours or click on the link above. The Friends of Iroquois NWR, Inc. operates the Flyway Nature Store during regular office hours.

The visitor contact station has restroom facilities. In addition there is a port-a-jon at the Kanyoo Nature Trail.

Loaner binoculars can be signed out for use during regular office hours.

The refuge trails, overlooks, and fishing areas are open from dawn to dusk, year-round.

Overnight parking, camping, campfires/grills are not allowed.

The refuge is "carry in -- carry out" and has no picnic facilities. Please take all of your litter with you to dispose of properly.

Please, keep all pets on a leash no longer than 10 feet at all times. The leashed animal must be under the control of a person. Be considerate of other visitors and clean up after your pet.

Between March 1 - July 15 the majority of the refuge is designated a wildlife sanctuary with restricted access. This period gives wildlife the chance to breed and raise their young without human disturbance. During this period the following will remain open: the immediate area around the refuge office, Kanyoo, Onondaga, Swallow Hollow and the Feeder Road nature trails; Cayuga, Mallard, Ringneck and School House overlooks and fishing areas (Ringneck Marsh and Oak Orchard Creek). The Mohawk Ski Trail closes March 1. (Click on the Visitor Opportunities link for more information on these areas).

Vehicles
Vehicles are only allowed on established roads marked open for vehicular travel.  Roads marked closed to all vehicles may be traveled on foot.  Vehicles must be parked in parking lots or if parked along the road must be off of the lane of travel and clear of gates to allow emergency vehicle access. ATV’s and snowmobiles are prohibited.

Boating
Canoes, kayaks or other boats without motors may only be used on Oak Orchard Creek between Knowlesville Road to Route 63.  Expect obstructions and variable water levels. Boats are not permitted in any of the marshes or pools. 

Nature Programs
Iroquois Observations (nature programs presented in partnership with the Buffalo Audubon Society), is scheduled from March -May and then in the fall. Call for a schedule or click on the link above. Programs are free and open to the public.

Nesting Bald Eagles
Depending on the severity of the winter, eagles may be present all year on or near the refuge. Bald eagles begin working on their nests in January or February and typically lay their eggs in late February. The eggs hatch in April. The young will often leave the nest in June or July, but will remain in the area until the fall. One of the two active eagle's nests is visible from Cayuga Overlook. Immatures are seen in the spring, as the ice begins to thaw, and occasionally throughout the summer.

Spotlighting
The use of illuminating devices, including automobile headlights, for the purpose of spotlighting game species is prohibited.

Season Tips
The following is general information regarding the best times to see certain species of wildlife. In addition please consult the refuge bird list for information on seasonal occurrence and abundance of birds on the refuge.

Spring

Spring waterfowl migration may peak from the last two weeks in March to the first two weeks in April. It is impossible to determine ahead of time when the actual peak will be since the migration is dependant on number of factors including weather and timing of the spring thaw. Geese typically leave the marshes at sunrise to feed in fields within a 15 mile radius and then return to roost at sunset. The best times see large numbers of geese is during dawn or dusk as they are leaving or returning to the marshes. Goslings make their first appearance in May.

Shorebirds and warblers generally peak in May. There is a shorebird observation area on Feeder Road just north of Route 77, which when flooded often holds shorebirds in the spring. If any marshes or impoundments are drawn down in the late summer or fall, shorebirds can often be found using the mud flats from August to October fattening up on their southward migration. During both spring and fall migrations, Swallow Hollow and Kanyoo Trails are some of the better areas to observe migrant warblers and other songbirds due to the variety of habitats present. Mammals such as red and gray fox may occasionally be seen hunting in fields.

Summer

The summer months on the refuge are often quieter than spring and fall, although several waterbirds do stay and breed on the refuge, including Rails, Moorhens, and Coots. The state endangered Black Tern and American and Least Bitterns can also be found breeding in the marshes. A large rookery of Great Blue Herons is located along Route 63 just south of Oak Orchard Ridge Rd. Many songbirds also breed on the refuge such as Cerulean Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and Yellow-throated Vireo all of which can be found along Swallow Hollow trail. Grassland birds such as Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, and Savannah Sparrows breed in the fields and are sometimes seen along Casey Rd, Oak Orchard Ridge Rd and Sour Springs Rd (near Roberts Rd).

Fall

Fall migration is much more extended than spring and typically peaks in October. Due to vegetation growth during the summer months, migratory waterfowl are less visible from the overlooks during the fall, although numbers do occur with Mallard Overlook offering the best viewing.

In recent years, Great Egrets have used the marshes around the refuge as a staging area during the fall months with large numbers often seen during this time.

Winter

Red-tailed hawk,white-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, American Tree Sparrow, and American Goldfinch are the most common winter birds. Uncommon species include American Kestrel, Morning Dove, Pileated Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

During the winter months, overlooks and parking areas are not plowed on weekends. Trails are not cleared of snow.

Hunting
The refuge is open to hunting during most State seasons between October 1 - the end of February. Nature trails are closed to hunting except that Onondaga Trail is closed to all uses except hunting during the State's regular (gun) deer season in mid-November through early December. Refuge permits are required. Consult the refuge hunting section under the "Recreation" link or click on the links above for further information.

Fishing
The refuge is open to fishing year round in Ringneck Marsh and Oak Orchard Creek within State seasons. All State fishing regulations apply. Click on the Sport Fishing link above for more information.

Wildlife Viewing Suggestions
Visit the refuge early in the morning or just before sunset. Animals are usually more active then, especially during the warmer times of the year, and can often be observed coming and going to feeding and resting areas.

Watch for wildlife in areas where two habitats meet. Animals are attracted to the variety of food and shelter found in these transition zones.

Stay in the car while on public roads. Vehicles are an excellent observation and photographic blind. Animals have grown accustomed to seeing people in cars and are less threatened than by people on foot.

Use binoculars and spotting scopes to get a closer look. The next visitor will appreciate animals not being scared into hiding. The Cayuga Overlook has mounts to attach spotting scopes.

Human voices and sudden movements scare wildlife. When hiking or observing, minimize talking and move slowly. Many times if you find a place to sit and quietly wait, wildlife will come out to reward your patience.

Be an Ethical Wildlife Observer

• Keep well back, especially from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. Do not pursue wildlife.
• To avoid stressing wildlife or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography.
• Disturbing or harassing federally threatened or endangered species, is against the law. This is especially critical in nesting areas. Please observe and enjoy these birds from a distance. Don’t attract these species with recordings.
• Respect private property. Don’t enter private property without permission. The refuge is surrounded by private property. Make sure you know where the boundary is.
• Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist.
• When wildlife watching from a road, pull safely to the side. Make sure hills and curves don’t hide you from behind.
• Be courteous to other recreationists.
• Follow regulations for public lands, including leash rules for dogs.
• Dispose of waste properly.
• Leave what you find so others can enjoy it.
• Do not feed wildlife.

Frequently Asked Questions

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