Road Closure Notice
The Auto Tour Route is temporarily closed to vehicles until further notice from Unit 21 to Unit 10 to protect breeding birds.
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies at the southern end of Ruby Valley in northeast Nevada. Flanked on the west by the rugged and scenic Ruby Mountains, it is one of the most remote refuges in the lower 48 states. The refuge encompasses 39,928 acres of marsh, meadows, grasslands, and brush covered upland habitats. The Ruby Valley is at an elevation of about 6,000 feet.
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Recreation
From January 1 until June 14, each year, the Ruby Lake marsh is closed to all boats except float tubes. During other times of year, though, other regulations apply. Ruby Lake marsh is a maze of channels and islands with heavy vegetation. Come prepared with a GPS unit and use your navigation skills!
Our Partners
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a new Nevada Agreement for Recreation Shared Stewardship, which is a strategic partnership among state and federal agencies to address the multi-faceted challenges facing Nevada’s communities and natural environment.
Get Involved
Do you love conservation and want to know how to help? Consider participating in the annual Junior Duck Stamp competition!
Recreation
These national wildlife refuges are among those with photography blinds or wildlife observation blinds.
Recreation
Going on vacation and need a place to beat the crowds, enjoy the outdoors and see something unusual or out of the ordinary? These hidden gems in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System will get you off the beaten path. Whether you like beaches, deserts or forests, you...
Wildlife Management
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully manages trapping activities on national wildlife refuges to ensure that safe, effective practices are used, to ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations, and to protect refuge infrastructure. Trapping may be used as a wildlife management tool...
Location and Contact Information
About Us
History
Ruby Valley is rich in history. Evidence of prehistoric people who roamed throughout northeastern Nevada can be found all along the west side of the refuge, in the Ruby Mountains. The numerous springs in and around the refuge provide abundant food sources including game animals, seeds, nuts, and roots.