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.

View Recreational Activities

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

an orange butterfly on a purple flower
Interior Department Commits to Urgent Actions to Conserve the Monarch Butterfly
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Martha Williams and Senator Jeff Merkley joined science experts and policymakers at the first-ever Monarch Butterfly Summit in Washington, DC, on...
Fish Surveys at Baca National Wildlife Refuge
Endangered Species Act
Rescind Regulatory Definition of “Habitat” Under the Endangered Species Act
To better fulfill the conservation purposes of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (together the “Services”) will rescind a final rule, published in December 2020, which established a regulatory definition of “habitat”...
sunbeams coming through clouds over sagebrush lands in Colorado
Habitat Restoration
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Fund Sagebrush Projects in the West
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that the Biden-Harris administration will invest more than $9 million in fiscal year 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to support projects to restore and conserve strategic areas within the sagebrush ecosystem.
Oregon semaphore grass at one of the natural population sites
Habitat Restoration
The Burns Paiute Tribe and the Rarest Grass in Oregon
On an October morning in 2021, three Burns Paiute Tribe wildlife program staff, one USDA-Agricultural Research Service ecologist, eight volunteers organized by Portland Audubon, and one U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service archaeologist arrived at the mountain meadows of Logan Valley with shovels,...
birds in an orange sky
Recreation
Service Promotes Public Access to Hunting and Fishing
Continuing the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to increase recreational access on public lands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced new proposed hunting and fishing opportunities for game species at 19 national wildlife refuges on approximately 54,000 acres nationwide.
A graphic of light blue waves on a blue background
Wildlife Management
Department of the Interior Proposes Proposes Expanding Conservation Technique as Climate Change Threatens Greater Species Extinction
In the first Endangered Species Act (ESA) interpretive rule produced under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to revise section 10(j) regulations under the ESA to better facilitate recovery by allowing for the introduction of listed species to suitable...

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Activities at Refuge Facilities

Accessible trails
Alaskan subsistence hunting and fishing
Archery
Auto tour
Backpacking
Beach combing
Biking
Birding
Boating - motorized
Boating - non-motorized
Camping
Climbing
Cross-country skiing
Cultural heritage
Dog sledding
Dog training
Dog walking
Earthcaching
Education programs
Firewood cutting
Fish viewing
Fishing
Fly fishing
Hiking
Horseback riding
Hunting
Ice fishing
Off-road vehicles
Painting and drawing
Photography
Picnicking
Ranger-led programs
Running
Shed antler collection
Shell fishing
Snorkeling and scuba diving
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Trapping
Wild edible foraging
Wildlife watching

Upcoming Events

Spokane Audubon member and long term refuge volunteer gets a rare opportunity to hold her Chapter's mascot - a northern pygmy owl.
Image Details

View the upcoming events at our national wildlife refuge facilities.

Turtle Talk

What are the differences between sea turtles and land turtles? Why are sea turtles endangered? What can you do to save these gentle giants? Find out about sea turtle conservation and learn how you can be a part of the solution.

This free event is held at the Pea Island National...

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Open-air Tram Tour

$10 per adult - reservation required. Join us for a trip around the refuge and learn about the wild lands and wildlife. Bring your binoculars and camera! Drinking water and insect repellent are also recommended. The program will occur except with lightning, heavy wind or rain, or impassable...

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Creef Cut Wildlife Trail parking lot, Hwy 64 and Milltail Road, app. 6 miles west of Manns Harbor
Ask a Ranger Walk

Have questions about Canaan Valley or the Refuge? Bring them down Camp 70 Rd where ACE member Zoe will be leading an “ask a ranger” walk on Camp 70 trail. We will also talk about some of the recent history of this area of the refuge.

Meet at the trailhead at the end of Camp 70...

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
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