The 10,000 acre Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1953 for use as an inviolate sanctuary and for any other management purposes of migratory birds. The refuge also serves as an ideal destination for recreation. As a designated Important Bird Area, it is a place of global significance for migratory waterfowl.
Temporary Detour to the Wildlife Drive Entrance

The wildlife drive is currently open but has a detoured entrance due to restoration construction. The temporary entrance is located at the junction of Ambrose Road and Bartel Road. Please follow the detour signs posted at both junctions. This route is subject to change depending on potential work construction changes.

Visit Us

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge provides several great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The mixture of bottomland forests and wetlands creates great waterways for canoeing and kayaking while also being great wildlife observation, hunting and fishing areas.

Location and Contact Information

      Upcoming Closures

      Due to upcoming deer hunts on the refuge, the Ferguson Bayou hiking trail, the Woodland trail, and the Wildlife Drive are closed to all public use on the following dates in 2024:

      • Sept. 14-15th (Youth Hunt)
      • Oct. 1-7th
      • Nov. 1-7th
      • Nov. 15-16th
      • Nov. 17-18th
      • Nov. 20-24th
      • Nov. 25-30th
      • Dec. 6-12th
      • Dec. 20-26th

      Please keep in mind that the Wildlife Drive closes for the season on October 1, 2024. 

      The 2024 waterfowl hunt at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge is conducted through a self-registered lottery system and will occur during the State of Michigan regular waterfowl season for the southern zone (October 14th - December 10th). For more information, check our Hunting tab under activities or our 2024 Regulation Sheet.

      About Us

      The 10,000 acre Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1953 for use as an inviolate sanctuary and for any other management purposes of migratory birds. The refuge also serves as an ideal destination for recreation. As a designated Important Bird Area, it is a place of global significance for migratory waterfowl.

      What We Do

      Services
      Kayakers navigating a swamp full of trees and lily pads.

      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 an America the Beautiful Federal...

      Silhouette of a person walking with a shotgun on the tundra

      Some commercial, recreational and research activities are allowed on national wildlife refuges only with a special use permit issued by the local office, and are subject to specific conditions and fees. This permit requirement is meant to ensure that all activities at the federal site are...

      Our Species

      More than 280 species of migratory birds and more than 100 songbirds have been observed on the refuge. The refuge supports numerous species of colonial nesting waterbirds such as ring-billed and herring gulls, great blue herons and great egrets. The refuge is home to several pairs of nesting eagles. In the spring and summer visitors may see eastern fox snakes (non-venomous) or white-trailed deer while on the trails. Muskrats are active throughout the year, swimming along drainage and the wetlands. Visitors might observe American white pelicans resting during the summer in Maankiki Marsh.