Patoka River
Oakland City, IN 47660-1637
Plan Your Visit
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visitors come to Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area to watch and photograph wildlife, hunt, fish, hike, canoe, learn through interpretive programs and seek simple solitude from everyday life.
More than 380 species of wildlife can be found on these properties, including nesting bald eagles and federally endangered species like the Indiana bat. At least 20 plant species and 63 animal species considered threatened, endangered or of special concern by the State of Indiana live within the Patoka River valley.
Points of Interest
Be sure to stop by the headquarters in Oakland City, Indiana to pick up a refuge map, trail maps, auto tour guide or information about hunting and fishing regulations.
What To Do
If you have 15 minutes
- Visit Snakey Point Marsh and hike the Boyd’s Tree Trail to the fishing pier (1/4 mile).
- Go to the observation deck at Cane Ridge Wildlife Management Area.
- Check out the historic Wabash and Erie Canal.
If you have one hour
- Try fishing in the South Fork or at one of the many lakes at the Columbia Mine Preserve.
- Hike part of the refuge’s 9 mile trail network (e.g., Overlook Trail or Massey Trail).
- Visit the Oatsville Bottoms, Dillin Bottoms or Gray Woods Swamp.
If you have half a day or more
- Paddle the Patoka River from the boat launches at Pikeville to Survant.
- Drive the auto tour route.
- The refuge manages a vast diversity of habitats and is open to hunting a variety of game species.
There is no charge to visit.
Activities
More Activities
Get Involved
Become a refuge volunteer or join the nonprofit friends group to support your refuge. Volunteer experiences include trail maintenance, tree planting, and habitat management. Stop by the office at 510 ½ West Morton Street, Oakland City, IN, or contact us at 812-749-3199 to learn more.
Services
About
Established in 1994, the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area protects bottomland forested wetlands and floodplain forest systems in Southwest Indiana. Its authorized acquisition boundary encompasses 23,743 acres of wetlands, floodplain forest, and upland buffer along 30 miles of the Patoka River corridor. The refuge mission focuses on conserving wetlands and migratory bird habitat while restoring and managing a diversity of habitat types for native plant and animal life.
