The auto-tour route is officially open to motor vehicles, hikers and bicyclists. The auto-tour route is open 7 days a week during daylight hours, as conditions allow. There is a new automatic gate at the exit of the auto-tour route, vehicles need to pull up to it for it to open.
Hunters will have access to all areas within the migratory hunt units starting October 10, 2026 at 3:00am. Road construction is wrapping up thus both Riverside Road and the Auto-tour Route will be open. Hunting within the waterfowl hunt units is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All managed waterfowl hunt units are closed to hunters on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Access to the hunt units starts at 3:00 am. There are 16 blinds available on a first-come, first-served basis or hunters can also free-roam. There are two accessible blinds that hunters with mobility issues should call or email the Refuge to reserve. Please allow for 24 hours at least to reserve a blind. To make a reservation, please call the Refuge, 208-267-3888, during business hours (Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm) or email FW1KootenaiNWR@fws.gov. For more information on the managed waterfowl hunt, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kootenai/visit-us/activities/hunting.
Visit Us
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge provides numerous recreation opportunities to thousands of visitors every year. People enjoy viewing the unique geology and diverse wildlife, whether driving or hiking. Regulation of recreation activities allow for public enjoyment of the refuge while still protecting the wildlife and habitats.
Location and Contact Information
About Us
Nestled beside the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho, this 2,774 acre refuge provides diverse habitats for a large variety of wildlife. Wetlands, meadows, riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian and coniferous forests, and cultivated agricultural are interspersed throughout the refuge to provide a sanctuary, primarily for migrating waterfowl. Kootenai was established in 1964 "for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds."
What We Do
To help plants and wildlife, refuge staff use a variety of habitat management techniques to maintain, recover or enhance plant and wildlife values. Refuge staff carefully consider any management techniques and employ them in varying degrees according to the situation.
Our Species
Despite its relatively small size of 2,774 acres, a wide variety of habitat types can be found on the refuge which plays an important role in the large number of wildlife species that use the refuge during migration and breeding seasons. Over 300 species of wildlife - 22 species of fish, 7 species of amphibians, 6 species of reptiles, 45 species of mammals, and over 223 species of birds have been observed on the refuge.
Projects and Research
Project sponsors are proposing to restore floodplain connectivity to the Kootenai River historic floodplain within the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge by breaching levees, raising refuge and county roads, replacing water control structures, and enhancing 830 acres of riparian and wetland habitats.
Project LocationKootenai NWR is 5 miles east of Bonners Ferry,...