Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife viewing is encouraged in nearly every part of the McKinney Refuge. Trails and wildlife observation platforms at the Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook and Great Meadows Unit in Stratford offer views of some of the only large coastal wetlands remaining in Connecticut. These units are...

Whether using a high-end digital camera or a small cell phone, opportunities to take photographs at the refuge are endless. 

People interested in architecture might want to visit Salt Meadow in Westbrook to photograph the historic buildings and cultural landscape. Others may want to...

The refuge offers opportunities for schools, scout troops, home schoolers and others to participate in quality staff-led environmental education programs.

The Nature of Learning is our most successful program. It provides two classroom-based environmental education...

Take your pick of refreshing trails and beach paths at refuge units from Westbrook to Greenwich. If you want to walk through some of the oldest maritime forest left in Connecticut, come to Salt Meadow. If a beach path is more your style, visit our unit on Milford Point. Some trails include...

The refuge offers ranger and volunteer-led interpretive programs on natural and cultural topics throughout the year. Examples of these include programs on specific plant and animal species that live on the refuge (shorebirds, woodcock, crabs, terrapins, etc.) as well as history talks, nature...

There are tremendous opportunities to boat or paddle at the refuge. Paddling along Westbrook's Menunketesuck River in summer provides great views of the Salt Meadow Unit and marsh birds like egrets, ibises, willets and herons. In fall the paddle is absolutely beautiful, and it allows visitors to...

From mid-September through the winter months, the refuge operates hunting programs for turkey, deer and waterfowl at various units. In addition to State of Connecticut hunting requirements, there are special hunting regulations in effect at the refuge. Every hunter is required to have...