Little River National Wildlife Refuge

Facility Activities

The Little River National Wildlife Refuge provides a variety of wildlife-dependent recreational activities to allow visitors to reconnect and experience nature.  

The refuge in the Little River floodplain serves to conserve one of the last remnants of the floodplain’s once-extensive bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem. The refuge is a wetland complex composed of forested overflow bottoms and riparian forests of the Little and Mountain Fork Rivers. Little...

Refuge waters include Forked Lake, Pine Lake, Little River, Crooked Creek and Yanubbee Lake. Fishing season is year-round. Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

Archery demonstrations and lessons may be a part of local site programming. Some refuges and hatcheries permit bow-hunting with other hunting. This activity is typically limited. Check locally for how to apply.
Auto tour routes offer a great all-season way to see wildlife and habitats from the comfort of your car. By using your car as a viewing blind, you can often see more wildlife than you can see on foot.
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.
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.
Boats provide the best way to see many refuges. Some refuges limit the use of motorboats to certain areas, subject to restrictions on engine size.
Take your pick of 2,100 miles of refreshing trails and boardwalks. Whether you want a short, easy walk or a challenging hike, you’re likely to find what you want. Some trails are paved and universally accessible. Some trails include displays on visual arts, local history and culture or environmental education.
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.
Many refuges champion wildlife viewing as a key recreational activity.