Facility Activities

The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge offers activities that meet the interests of most user groups from wildlife observation and photography to fishing and hunting.

Hunting

Cottonwoods and willows provide important habitat for game in desert environments, offering a ribbon of lush cover in an otherwise arid environment. Along the lower Colorado River, Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge has one of the last stands of natural cottonwood-willow forest that is...

Fishing

Accessible fishing facilities are open 24 hours per day, seven days a week, and the canoe/kayak (non-motorized) launch is open seven days a week during daylight hours. Available species include striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, flathead and channel catfish, bluegill and black crappie...

Auto tour
Auto tour routes offer a great all-season way to see wildlife and habitats from the comfort of your car. By using your car as a viewing blind, you can often see more wildlife than you can see on foot.
Birding
From bald eagles to spoonbills, from condors to puffins, birds abound on national wildlife refuges. Refuges provide places for birds to nest, rest, feed and breed making them world-renown for their birding opportunities.
Boating - motorized
Boats provide the best way to see many refuges. Some refuges limit the use of motorboats to certain areas, subject to restrictions on engine size.
Hiking
The Refuge System offers hundreds of miles of refreshing trails and boardwalks. Whether you want a short, easy walk or a challenging hike, you’re likely to find what you want. Some trails are paved and universally accessible. Some trails include displays on visual arts, local history and culture or environmental education.
Photography
Whether you wield a smartphone or a zoom lens, you’ll find photo-worthy subjects at national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. Wildlife photography is a priority public use on national wildlife refuges, so you’ll find wildlife drives and blinds and overlooks to help you get the images you’re after.
Picnicking
A few sites allow picnicking at designated areas.
Ranger-led programs
Rangers lead wildlife walks, tours and educational programs at many sites. Events may focus on wildflowers or birds or on seasonal spectacles, such as elk bugling or sea turtle nesting. Some programs may be limited in size or require advance registration. See individual websites for details.
Wildlife watching

Morning and evening times are when wildlife are most active and most likely to be seen.