Visit Us

The visitor center is located 3 miles north of Coleharbor, North Dakota, on U.S. Highway 83 and 1 mile east of the highway. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm year-round, except Federal holidays. On the week day prior to a Federal holiday, we may be closed early.

The visitor center is fully accessible and features exhibits on prairie wetland and grassland habitat, migratory birds, night life of the refuge, John James Audubon, and Refuge history.  

Audubon Visitor Center - Displays
Image Details

Activities

Hunting
Fishing
Wildlife watching
Photography

Other Facilities in the Complex

The Audubon Wetland Management District consists of an array of private and fee-title land that is managed out of the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center. 

Sunset on Lake Audubon
Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
Audubon National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,739-acre refuge that attracts numerous species of waterfowl, shorebirds, song birds, and other migratory birds. The Refuge occupies the southern portion of Lake Audubon and adjacent lands of native prairie, planted grasslands, and wetlands. The Refuge lies...
National Wildlife Refuge
Coleharbor,ND
Lake Nettie Wetland
Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Central Flyway and provides important habitat for migratory birds. Lake Nettie is a haven for waterfowl and other water birds, with several thousand geese and ducks using the Refuge habitats during spring and fall migration periods. The Refuge...
National Wildlife Refuge
Coleharbor,ND
Canada Geese
McLean National Wildlife Refuge
McLean National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 565 refuges and 38 wetland management districts in the National Wildlife Refuge System - a network of lands set aside specifically for wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System is a living heritage, preserving wildlife...
National Wildlife Refuge
Prairie Wetland_Audubon WMD
White Lake National Wildlife Refuge
White Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 565 refuges and 38 wetland management districts in the National Wildlife Refuge System - a network of lands set aside specifically for wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System is a living heritage, preserving...
National Wildlife Refuge
Coleharbor,ND
Lake Ilo NWR
Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 560 refuges and 38 wetland management districts in the National Wildlife Refuge System-a network of lands set aside specifically for wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System is a living heritage, preserving wildlife...
National Wildlife Refuge
Dunn Center,ND
Stewart_Lake_NWR
Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 560 refuges and 38 wetland management districts in the National Wildlife Refuge System-a network of lands set aside specifically for wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System is a living heritage, preserving...
National Wildlife Refuge
Coleharbor,ND

Rules and Policies

Please observe the following regulations to protect natural resources and to help ensure that your visit will be safe and enjoyable. 

  • Vehicles are permitted only on designated roads, parking areas, and on the ice for ice fishing. Vehicle access to the ice is limited to ice accessible from a right-of-way or designated road.
  • Motorized vehicles must be licensed in accordance with State laws and regulations.
  • Motorized boats are allowed for wildlife-dependent activities. Boats that must be launched from a trailer are limited to those waters that are accessible from a right-of-way or designated road.
  • Collection of mature wild fruits, berries, above-ground portion of asparagus, and mushrooms for personal daily non-commercial use is allowed.
  • Commercial activities are not allowed unless authorized by a Special Use Permit issued by the manager.
Prohibited Activities:
  • Overnight camping 
  • Fires
  • Littering, including leaving spent shotgun shells or the remains of hunted animals
  • Removing or disturbing property, including artifacts
  • Removing natural objects or destroying plants, excluding the gathering of dead plant materials for on-site blind construction 
  • Riding or using horses for any purpose

Special Use Permits

Commercial Activities

Includes: workshops & wildlife viewing tours. Please note: photography and filming that takes place on areas closed to the public requires a permit. Application Form

For Commercial Winter Wildlife Viewing Permits, please submit a completed special use permit application, a digital copy of your liability insurance, and a guide and vehicle list no later than 5:00pm Friday, October 1, 2021 to Fred_Oslund@fws.gov.

Research and Monitoring

Includes: biological work & geological monitoring. Application Form

General Activities

All other permits. Application Form

For questions or to submit completed application form, please email Fred Oslund, Fred_Oslund@fws.gov.

A minimum of ten business d ays is required to request a permit. 

Locations

Audubon Wetland Management District
(701) 442-5474
C/O Audubon National Wildlife Refuge3275 11th Street NWColeharbor,ND58531-9419