The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working on conservation for ALL Americans.
Opportunities for outdoor recreation draw millions of people each year to national wildlife refuges, boosting local economies. Many visitors enjoy hiking, paddling, wildlife viewing or nature photography. Others take part in heritage sports such as hunting and fishing. All these activities offer visitors a chance to unplug from the stresses of modern life and reconnect with their natural surroundings.
Plan Your Visit
Things to Do
National wildlife refuges provide a variety of activities such as walking, fishing, bird-watching, canoeing, and hunting that offer the chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.
Things to See
National wildlife refuges are world-renowned as places to see great seasonal migrations of fish and wildlife, iconic animals life bison and bears, and more ordinary creatures thriving in their natural habitats.
Passes and Permits
Some 30 national wildlife refuges charge visitors a nominal entrance fee (generally $3-$5 daily) to cover road and facility maintenance. If you are a regular visitor or would like to visit other public lands, you could save by buying a Federal Duck Stamp or an America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes, your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Find a Refuge Near You
Ways to Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved at any facility in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Learn about the ways you can help out at your local refuge.
Partnerships
The Fish and Wildlife Service enters into agreements with a wide range of organizations at the national, regional, and local levels.
Youth Programs
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) enjoys a proud history working with a range of youth organizations to help young people develop academic, leadership, and citizenship skills.
Outreach
Since 2010, the National Wildlife Refuge System has embarked on strategically and collaboratively addressing the mounting challenges faced by conserving America's wild plants, fish, animals and their habitats in our rapidly changing world.
Learning Opportunities
Outdoor Learning provides you with links to fun facts and info you can use for every trip to our refuges.
Latest Stories
Habitat Restoration
$26 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support nature-based solutions that restore fish and wildlife habitat and help communities thrive
WASHINGTON – Building on months of close collaboration and engagement with Klamath Basin stakeholders, Tribes, and federal, state and local leaders, the Department of the Interior today announced that nearly $26 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated for...
Habitat Restoration
The Little Tonsina River bridge project in Alaska's Copper River watershed is the nation's first Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded fish passage project to break ground.
Wildlife Crime
A citizen of Liberia and resident of Uganda, Moazu Kromah, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for conspiring to traffic in millions of dollars in rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory, both endangered wildlife species.
