Enjoying the Refuge

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In addition to providing wildlife habitat, the refuge also provides opportunities for people to observe wildlife. The refuge is open during daylight hours seven days a week. There are no bicycling facilities at Montezuma. Facilities available to refuge visitors include (click on any of the thumbnail images for a larger picture):

Photo by Julian Thomas

Visitor Center - Open (April 1 - November 30) weekends 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and most weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Visitors should call ahead to check weekday staffing). A section of the Visitor Center containing maps and brochures is always open. The Visitor Center contains exhibits, leaflets and brochures, a film library, and restrooms. The upper deck is equipped with a telescope to enhance wildlife viewing.

USFWS Photo by Marva Gingrich

Main Pool Observation Tower - Just a short walk from the Visitor Center, this tower is equipped with a telescope and provides some of the best viewing of wildlife using the Main Pool.

USFWS Photo by Marva Gingrich

Wildlife Drive - This 3.5 mile (5.6 km) drive provides many opportunities to observe and photograph wildlife. Please stay in your vehicle since it serves as a "blind" and minimizes disturbance to wildlife. Snow, ice and poor road conditions generally keep the road closed during the winter and early spring months.

Photo by Julie Horton

Oxbow Trail - A 3/4 mile easy walking loop trail that crosses grassland (good habitat for this Savannah Sparrow), then enters the forest to border on an inlet ("the Oxbow") from the canal, and finally proceeds along the canal before returning to the starting point. There is a small parking lot for this trail just before the bend in the Wildlife Drive (before Benning Marsh).
In order to keep invasive plants at bay, the cropland in this area will be planted with sorghum, which provides excellent nutrition for migrating birds.

USFWS Photo by Kevin Holcomb

Benning Marsh - This 5 acre (2 hectare) marsh was created in 1991 for the purpose of providing additional shorebird habitat. Shorebirds, such as greater and lesser yellowlegs and many species of sandpipers, migrate great distances from Canada's arctic regions to Central and South America. They are totally dependant upon mudflats and shallow marsh edges to probe for aquatic insects and crustaceans which provide energy reserves for their long journeys.

USFWS Photo by Kevin Holcomb

Tschache Pool - Located on Route 89 just north of the New York State Thruway, this 1100 acre (445 hectare) impoundment is surrounded by a dike. There is a parking area and an observation tower equipped with a telescope - lucky visitors will be able to spot one or more bald eagles in this area. In addition to the eagles, this pool provides habitat for muskrat and various species of waterfowl.

USFWS Photo by Kevin Holcomb

May's Point Pool - This pool is one of the few areas in central New York that attracts large numbers of migrating shorebirds. Water levels are lowered in the spring (when the levels in adjacent waterways permit) and again in the fall to expose mudflats that provide feeding habitat for these shorebirds as well as green and blue winged teal, northern shovelers, gadwalls, common and caspian terns, and occasionally peregrine falcons. During the summer months, water levels are usually kept high in an effort to reduce cattail and loosestrife growth. Viewing is from the May's Point Platform located off Route 89 just north of Tschache Pool.

Photo by Julie Horton

North Spring Pool is located south of where the wildlife drive comes out on Route 89, and just south of the New York State Thruway. There is a small parking area off Rte. 89, where you can see the Osprey nest (this is the one that is also visible on the TV in the Visitor Center and on the webcam).

USFWS Photo by Marva Gingrich

Esker Brook Nature Trails - The refuge's walking trails are located on the west edge of the refuge. Three interconnected trails provide visitors with a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) walk through a variety of habitats. The Esker Brook area is an excellent spot to observe a variety of wildflowers, migrant songbirds, and other wildlife species.

Fishing Opportunities - Fishing is prohibited in refuge waters. The refuge maintains a boat launch area providing access to the State-owned Barge Canal System. Three public fishing sites provide bank-fishing access to the Canal.
Public hunting for waterfowl and deer is permitted under special regulations on portions of the refuge during the state seasons. Contact the Refuge Manager for additional information.
Additional Information - With advance notice, educational programs are available to organized groups throughout the year. Refuge staff provide many guided tours, particularly during the spring and fall migrations. Other programs are held in the refuge's Visitor Center throughout the year. Special Visitor Center programs are announced through news releases that are sent to newspapers and radio stations throughout New York; click here. For further information, write Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 3395 Routes 5/20 East, Seneca Falls, New York 13148.

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Photo by Julian Thomas	Visitor Center - Open (April 1 - November 30) weekends 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and most weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Visitors should call ahead to check weekday staffing). A section of the Visitor Center containing maps and brochures is always open. The Visitor Center contains exhibits, leaflets and brochures, a film library, and restrooms. The upper deck is equipped with a telescope to enhance wildlife viewing.
USFWS Photo by Marva Gingrich	Main Pool Observation Tower - Just a short walk from the Visitor Center, this tower is equipped with a telescope and provides some of the best viewing of wildlife using the Main Pool.
USFWS Photo by Marva Gingrich	Wildlife Drive - This 3.5 mile (5.6 km) drive provides many opportunities to observe and photograph wildlife. Please stay in your vehicle since it serves as a "blind" and minimizes disturbance to wildlife. Snow, ice and poor road conditions generally keep the road closed during the winter and early spring months.
Photo by Julie Horton	Oxbow Trail - A 3/4 mile easy walking loop trail that crosses grassland (good habitat for this Savannah Sparrow), then enters the forest to border on an inlet ("the Oxbow") from the canal, and finally proceeds along the canal before returning to the starting point. There is a small parking lot for this trail just before the bend in the Wildlife Drive (before Benning Marsh). In order to keep invasive plants at bay, the cropland in this area will be planted with sorghum, which provides excellent nutrition for migrating birds.
USFWS Photo by Kevin Holcomb	Benning Marsh - This 5 acre (2 hectare) marsh was created in 1991 for the purpose of providing additional shorebird habitat. Shorebirds, such as greater and lesser yellowlegs and many species of sandpipers, migrate great distances from Canada's arctic regions to Central and South America. They are totally dependant upon mudflats and shallow marsh edges to probe for aquatic insects and crustaceans which provide energy reserves for their long journeys.
USFWS Photo by Kevin Holcomb	Tschache Pool - Located on Route 89 just north of the New York State Thruway, this 1100 acre (445 hectare) impoundment is surrounded by a dike. There is a parking area and an observation tower equipped with a telescope - lucky visitors will be able to spot one or more bald eagles in this area. In addition to the eagles, this pool provides habitat for muskrat and various species of waterfowl.
USFWS Photo by Kevin Holcomb	May's Point Pool - This pool is one of the few areas in central New York that attracts large numbers of migrating shorebirds. Water levels are lowered in the spring (when the levels in adjacent waterways permit) and again in the fall to expose mudflats that provide feeding habitat for these shorebirds as well as green and blue winged teal, northern shovelers, gadwalls, common and caspian terns, and occasionally peregrine falcons. During the summer months, water levels are usually kept high in an effort to reduce cattail and loosestrife growth. Viewing is from the May's Point Platform located off Route 89 just north of Tschache Pool.
Photo by Julie Horton	North Spring Pool is located south of where the wildlife drive comes out on Route 89, and just south of the New York State Thruway. There is a small parking area off Rte. 89, where you can see the Osprey nest (this is the one that is also visible on the TV in the Visitor Center and on the webcam).
USFWS Photo by Marva Gingrich	Esker Brook Nature Trails - The refuge's walking trails are located on the west edge of the refuge. Three interconnected trails provide visitors with a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) walk through a variety of habitats. The Esker Brook area is an excellent spot to observe a variety of wildflowers, migrant songbirds, and other wildlife species.