Directions, Address & Contact Info

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is located in southeast Missouri in Stoddard and Wayne Counties. Visitors can stop by the temporary refuge office located 1 mile north of Puxico, just west of the intersection of Bluff Road and Highway 51 at 24279 State Highway 51, Puxico. The office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except Federal holidays. Contact the refuge office at: 573-222-3589. E-mail: Mingo@fws.gov 

Point of Interest

Observe wildlife along three auto tour routes. Be alert, drive slowly, and avoid any critters crossing the road. Bluff Road and Red Mill Drive are open year round and the Ozark Highlands Auto Tour Route is open April - May, October - November, and one week in August which coincides with the Puxico Homecoming.

Another popular activity is walking the Swampwalk Nature Trail, which consists of an accessible boardwalk that meanders 0.8 miles through the bottomland hardwood forest. Observation decks at the Monopoly Overlook, Rockhouse Marsh, and Red Mill Drive, offer outstanding views of the Mingo Basin and its wildlife. Come check us out!

Know Before You Go

When planning a trip to the refuge, it is important to wear appropriate footwear for canoeing, sturdy shoes for land excursions and to dress for the weather. Bring water, camera, binoculars, field guides, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and anything else that might make the outdoor experience more enjoyable.

You can enter the refuge at the following locations: Bluff Road at Highway 51, Schoolhouse Access (Highway 51), Mingo Job Corps (Highway T), Rabbit Ridge Road (County Road 518), and McGee Gate (County Road 513).

Entrance permits are required year-round for entering the refuge. The permits are available at the refuge office. For each vehicle, you need one of the following:

Daily Permit ($3.00; available at the entrance kiosks)
Mingo Specific Annual Pass ($12.00)
Federal Duck Stamp ($15.00)
Interagency Annual Pass ($80.00)
Interagency Senior Pass ($10.00) for U.S. Citizen 62 years of age or older 
Interagency Access Pass (free) for U.S. Citizen with a permanent disability
Interagency Annual Military Pass (free) for active Military and their dependent(s)

For more information about Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, download the General Brochure here:  Mingo Brochure