Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is located along the Green River in northwest Colorado. Situated between the Cold Springs and Diamond Mountains, this remote river valley has long been an oasis to both wildlife and humans seeking shelter from the surrounding harsh, semi-arid environment.
The Browns Park NWR Wildlife Drive is temporarily closed until further notice.
The River's Edge Wildlife Drive has been reopened for public use

There will ongoing maintenance to further repair rough sections of the road, which may result in sporadic temporary closures. Please watch for maintenance equipment and trucks that may be working on the road. 

The 4x4 high clearance roads on the southside of the Green River and below Lodore Hall remain extremely rough and muddy. Please do not drive these roads when they are muddy to avoid making the ruts worse or getting vehicles stuck. Cell signal is highly unreliable in these places. 

For more information, please contact Refuge staff at 970-365-3613 or brownspark@fws.gov

Location and Contact Information

      Collecting shed antlers is prohibited within the Refuge.
      No shed antler hunting within the Refuge.

      Please Be Aware! Shed antler hunting is not allowed on the Refuge. Collection of animal parts, plants, historic artifacts, fossils, minerals, etc. is illegal. If you find anything, leave it for other visitors to enjoy as well. Contact Refuge staff if you have any questions. 

      About Us

      Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1956 by by Public Land Order to provide sanctuary for migratory birds, conserve endangered and threatened species, and offer wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities. The Refuge encompasses a wide variety of habitat types from upland sage steppe and pinyon/juniper forests to wetlands and wet meadows. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge provides valuable habitat for birds to rest and feed as they migrate each spring and fall, and forage for elk and mule deer that browse the uplands and grasslands each winter. Bald eagles and ospreys nest in the cottonwoods and nesting platforms along the Green River.

      The Browns Park area also has a rich history. Fremont Indians lived and hunted in the valley and marked stones with petroglyphs. Later on, the Shoshone and mountain men would gather for a winter rendezvous and trade goods. Eventually, cattle and sheep ranchers moved into the area and started homesteads. Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch would help the ranchers when they needed to avoid law enforcement officers. 

      Our Library

      2021 Browns Park NWR- web version.pdf

      2021 General brochure for Browns Park NWR