The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff will lead a guided hikes to the top of Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge. The public hike will be held on Saturday May 16, 2026. The hike will take place at 9:00 a.m. and participants will meet at Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site before leaving for the refuge. During the hike, staff and volunteers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss how past mining has created critical habitat for endangered Indiana and Northern Long Ear bats. This important refuge with its unique geology and mining history provided hibernation habitat that continues today. Space is limited; participants must pre-register to reserve their spot for the hike by email Mingo@fws.gov or calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge at 573-222-3589. Hikers will walk up steep terrain with loose rock and uneven footing. Participants must be physically able to make this hike. More details on schedule and meeting location will be provided to registered participants.
This refuge exists to protect endangered species habitat.
The refuge contains abandoned iron mine shafts excavated in the mid-1800s that have since become critical habitat for the federally endangered Indiana bat. The Indiana bat hibernates within the abandoned mine shafts located at the peak of Pilot Knob Mountain. The bats generally arrive in September and leave in April.
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To avoid disturbance to the bats and for public safety, the refuge is closed to all entry.