Facility Activities

There are no facilities i.e. bathrooms, water, garbage cans, picnic areas, or trails. The refuge is remote, undeveloped, and cell phone service is unreliable. Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water, snacks, insect repellant, sunscreen and other necessities. You may wish to leave a trip plan with your friends and/or family so they will know when to expect your return.

Plan on taking at least half a day to get to the refuge and back. There are sand dunes and alkali playa to explore on foot.

Hunting

Fallon National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve wetlands and provide habitat for migrating waterfowl at the terminus of the Carson River. In most years the river runs dry before reaching the refuge. However, during years with high runoff, the refuge gets flooded and can provide good...

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.
Camping
A relatively small number of Fish and Wildlife Service sites allow backpack camping or RV camping. For a list of federal lands that allow camping, check recreation.gov.
Dog walking
Many sites do not allow dogs because they can disturb wildlife. Refuges that do allow dogs generally require that they be leashed. Some sites allow hunters and sledders to bring dogs.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is permitted on designated trails of a limited number of refuges. Riders must follow refuge rules and regulations for this activity. See individual refuge websites for details.
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.
Wildlife watching
Many refuges champion wildlife viewing as a key recreational activity.