In addition to our walking trails, visitors are welcome to explore the Refuge on foot in all areas open to the public, including the Sandhills!
Walking Trails
The Pelican Island Trail is located 2.5 miles north of the visitor center. The trail is a short (0.35 miles) easy hike. This walking trail provides visitors with the rare opportunity to view American white pelicans nesting on two islands within Pool 9 on the Refuge. During late April and early May, visitors will see thousands of white pelicans located on these islands. There are great blue heron, snowy and cattle egret, double-crested cormorant, and black crowned night heron rookeries on the islands as well. By late August, all of the young will have fledged and moved on. In addition, visitors will likely see many different species of waterfowl, shorebirds and other birds, both resident and migrants in season.
The Bird Trail starts at Headquarters and makes an easy 0.25-mile loop around the display pond. Large willows, cottonwoods, and other shrubs often provides the opportunity to observe warblers and other bird species not commonly found in our grasslands and wetlands.