Facility Activities

Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound at Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge. 

Hunting

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is not a lake. It is the largest hardstem bulrush marsh in North America. The refuge is known for its large nesting population of sandhill cranes, Franklin’s gulls, and trumpeter swans. In the fall, local waterfowl gather in open water and provide hunting...

Birding
From bald eagles to spoonbills, from condors to puffins, birds abound on national wildlife refuges. Refuges provide places for birds to nest, rest, feed and breed making them world-renown for their birding opportunities.
Boating - non-motorized
Many Fish and Wildlife Service sites make great destinations for flatwater canoeing or kayaking. Some sites have concessions that rent canoes or kayaks. Some sites offer scheduled paddle tours. See individual refuge websites for details.
Cross-country skiing
Many refuges in the country's northern tier have backcountry trails that can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in season. Some refuges lend gear or rent it at low cost.
Hiking

Hiking is allowed on the Bear Island trail and  in the north half of the refuge September 20 - March 31. Permission should be obtained from landowners before crossing private land to enter some open portions of the refuge. Please leave all gates as you find them.

Photography
Whether you wield a smartphone or a zoom lens, you’ll find photo-worthy subjects at national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. Wildlife photography is a priority public use on national wildlife refuges, so you’ll find wildlife drives and blinds and overlooks to help you get the images you’re after.
Photography

Perhaps the fastest growing activity on national wildlife refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography.  That’s not surprising – the digital camera population explosion and cell phones with ever-improving picture-taking abilities are increasing the number of nature...

Picnicking
A few sites allow picnicking at designated areas.
Snowshoeing
Many refuges in the country's northern tier have backcountry trails that can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in season. Some refuges loan out gear or rent it at low cost.
Wildlife watching

Moose, deer and occasionally elk can be seen in the Grays Lake area. Birding is popular through spring and summer, nearly 200 species have been recorded on the refuge. The public roads that encircle the refuge provide good vantage points for viewing wildlife on the refuge and on adjacent lands...