Facility Activities
If you enjoy getting outdoors and looking for wildlife, consider a visit to Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge! Hunting, fishing, birding, photography, boating, biking, hiking, kayaking and simply taking a peaceful drive to see the wildlife are all popular activities on the refuge. To help you get the most out of your visit, this 51,000 acre refuge has miles of peaceful refuge roads, several hiking trails, wildlife observation decks and blinds, an auto tour, 23 boat ramps, and a fishing pier.
Hunting is an important wildlife management tool that we recognize as a healthy, traditional outdoor pastime, deeply rooted in America’s heritage. Our hunt program spans from spring to fall and requires the purchase of an annual hunting permit.
About half the refuge is water and fishing is excellent on the refuge. Most of the refuge waters are open year round, but some areas are closed seasonally from Nov. 15 – Mar. 15 to provide sanctuary for waterfowl and other migratory birds. These waters also provide a serene area to dip a paddle with your canoe or kayak.
Our state of the arts visitor center located at 1371 Wildlife Drive in Springville, TN offers exhibits, auditorium, environmental education classroom and nature bookstore. Entry is free and it is open Monday – Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (except for Federal holidays). The refuge hosts a series of free educational events at the center called the “Refuge Discovery Series”. Environmental education is emphasized at this facility and teachers or groups are encouraged to utilize this free facility for your next field trip. These ranger guided field trips offer a bus grant from the Friends of Tennessee NWR to help offset bus transportation costs.