The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is not just a place for wildlife, but a refuge for the city-dwelling neighbors who surround it. Established in 1996 and at about 12,445 acres from the city of Jamul to communities in Spring Valley and eastern Chula Vista, the refuge is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s contribution to the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a landscape-wide habitat conservation plan to preserve habitat and species while allowing appropriate development.
NOTICE

The Sweetwater River Trail work is currently ongoing as part of the San Diego NWR Sweetwater River Trail Repair Project.

Hunting is currently OPEN at San Diego NWR. Please refer to this page for more information. 

Visit Us

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge offers one of the last expanses of open space in coastal southern California with exceptional biological, social, historical, and economic values and is protected as a sanctuary not just for plants and animals but also for people. Visitors have the opportunity to go hiking, biking, birding, and horseback riding as well as photograph endangered species and get a tour from a refuge ranger.

Location and Contact Information

      Our Species

      The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge supports an extremely diverse assemblage of habitat types and species. More than 14 species are currently listed as threatened or endangered, including some species addressed in the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). Although a comprehensive wildlife inventory has not yet been completed for the refuge; however, various surveys have been conducted over the years for different portions of the Refuge.  More information about the wildlife present on the Refuge is provided in the Comprehensive Conservation Plan. 

      Projects and Research

      Resource management include listed and sensitive species, habitat restoration and enhancement, and habitat and wildlife protection.