Weather, repairs, and wildlife management activities have led to the temporary closures of several refuge roads to vehicles and/or general public access. The descriptions below summarize current road status as of September 1, 2026. A complete map of the refuge can be found in the Refuge Tearsheet.
The refuge is open during daylight hours (half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset).
Milltail and Long Curve Roads
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge staff have recently witnessed and been notified of multiple incidents of dangerous human-bear interactions, including black bears approaching and leaning on cars. Animals that are habituated to human presence pose significant dangers to both humans and animals because of the risk of aggressive encounters, disease transmission, and property damage. In order to protect public safety, the refuge closed parts of Milltail and Long Curve Roads.
Following declining bear activity along Long Curve Road, the refuge will re-open Long Curve Road September 1. Bear activity continues to remain high on Milltail Road, which will remain closed between Sawyer Lake and Long Curve Road.
Reducing human activity in this closure area will reduce the habituation of animals, help ensure safe wildlife observation distances, and avoid a potentially life-threatening incident between a bear and human.
A detour for the Wildlife Drive around the closure is available:
- When approaching from the north, turn right onto Sawyer Lake Road
- Turn left onto Butler Road
- At the end of Butler Road, turn left onto Sandy Ridge Road
- At the end of Sandy Ridge Road, turn left onto Milltail Road
- Continue along Milltail road to the other end of the closure. Turn right onto Long Curve Road to continue on the Wildlife Drive.
You can do your part to protect yourself, others, and wildlife by giving bears space, viewing wildlife quickly and moving on, and never feeding wildlife. The refuge will continue monitoring bear activity around the closures and elsewhere on the refuge. Updates to the road closures will be posted on the refuge website.
Many other roads on the refuge remain open for driving and wildlife observation. Some suggested alternative routes include:
Sawyer Lake Loop:
Estimated time: 40min, 6mi
- From Highway 64, enter on Milltail Road. Turn right onto Sawyer Lake Road at the closure.
- Drive Sawyer Lake Road to the end. Turn right onto Buffalo City Road and out to Highway 64.
Grouse Loop:
Estimated time: 20min, 5mi
- From Highway 264, turn right onto Borrow Pit Road.
- Turn right onto Bear Road. At the end, turn left onto Grouse Road.
- Turn left onto Long Curve Road, then left onto Borrow Pit to return to 264.
River to Pump Loop:
Estimated time: 20min, 4mi
- From Highway 64, enter on River Road. Continue to the end of River Rd.
- Turn right onto Laurel Bay Road. Continue 1 mile.
- Turn right onto Pump Road and out to Highway 64.
Through the Heart of the Refuge
Total distance: 17 miles, estimated time 1h 15min
If you want to explore a longer route through the refuge through wild pocosin wetlands and forest with dense vegetation, you can connect from Milltail Road to Long Curve Road via the following route. Make sure you have a map to keep oriented as you drive!
- Enter from Highway 64 onto Milltail Road. Turn right onto Sawyer Lake Road at the closure.
- Proceed 1.3 miles. Turn left onto Butler Road.
- At the end of Butler Rd, turn left onto Sandy Ridge Road
- At the end of Sandy Ridge Road, turn left onto Milltail Road
- Proceed 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Koehring Rd.
- At the end of Koehring Road, turn left onto Long Curve Road.
- At the “T” intersection, turn right onto Borrow Pit. You can turn left on Bear Road to add the Grouse Loop or continue straight to exit via Highway 264.
Upper and Lower Creef Units
The Upper Creef Unit lies east of Milltail Road and north of Link Road and includes Gadwall, Bobcat, Creef, Sprigtail, and Peterson Roads.
Roads on the Upper Creef Unit are currently open to motorized vehicles. Creef Cut Rd on the north end of the unit is open for walking or biking. Some roads are natural-surface and may be in poor condition--use good judgement when driving in the unit. Do not enter farm fields under cultivation.
The Lower Creef unit is located between Link, Bear, Borrow Pit, and Long Curve Roads.
Link Road and Bear Road between Link and Grouse Roads have been reopened to public entry. The farm fields between Link, Bear, and Grouse Roads have been reopened. Do not enter farm fields under cultivation.
The no stopping, standing, or parking restrictions have been lifted. The refuge will continue monitoring wildlife and human activity around the area and will adjust management as needed. Updates to the road closures will be posted on the refuge website.
Please be mindful of your behaviors and actions at all times when on the refuge. When wildlife are habituated to the presence of people, it reduces their normal fear responses. Instead of avoiding areas of human activity and fleeing at the sight of people, the animals may choose to approach or remain closer than is natural. Acclimating to people may increase the likelihood of incidents that are detrimental to their survival, such as vehicle strikes.
Follow these viewing guidelines:
- Use binoculars or a zoom lens to view wildlife from a distance—at least 100 yards or eight school buses.
- If wildlife approaches you on foot or in a vehicle, move back to stay 100 yards away. It is very important to keep wildlife from growing comfortable to humans or vehicles. Recent closures have been triggered by incidents of visitors and wildlife too close together.
- If animals react to your presence, you are too close.
- Don’t linger in one spot for a long time--give wildlife time to use that area without human presence.
- It’s illegal to feed, touch, tease, or intentionally disturb wildlife.
Be careful when driving to protect wildlife as well. Be sure to always follow the speed limits and watch for wildlife that may dart into the road. When you want to stop to watch wildlife, pull your vehicle to the right side of the road, do not block traffic, and move on once you've had a good look.
Red Wolf Recovery Program staff monitor red wolf activity on the refuge. The most reliable source for current information about red wolves is the Red Wolf Recovery Program website.
Twiford Unit
The Twiford Unit is the area between Milltail and Buffalo City Roads and north of Sawyer Lake Road. The Twiford Unit is open to motorized access. Sawyer Lake Road is open to motorized vehicles.
Laurel Bay Unit
The Laurel Bay Unit is the area west of Buffalo City Road and east of Pump Road.
Roads in the Laurel Bay Unit are currently open to motorized vehicles. Some roads are natural-surface and may be in poor condition--use good judgement when driving in the unit.
Bay and Cypress Roads
Bay and Cypress Roads have been re-opened to motorized vehicles. These roads are natural-surface dirt and are easily damaged by vehicle traffic during wet conditions. Use good judgement and do not drive on these roads if they are in poor condition.
Buffalo City Road
High water levels or heavy rainfall may lead to flooding at the end of Buffalo City Road. When flooding is present, please turn around before the end and do not drive in standing water.
Chip Rd
Chip Road is currently closed to all public entry for management activities.
