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Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge is a prairie gem, containing one of the largest publicly owned tracts of northern mixed grass prairie in the United States. The Refuge maintains a Globally Important Bird Area designation by the American Bird Conservancy and Audubon Society. Congress set aside a 5,577 acre wilderness area wilderness area
Wilderness areas are places untamed by humans. The Wilderness Act of 1964 allows Congress to designate wilderness areas for protection to ensure that America's pristine wild lands will not disappear. Wilderness areas can be part of national wildlife refuges, national parks, national forests or public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Learn more about wilderness area within the Refuge in 1975, to protect a representative sample of northern mixed grass prairie in the Missouri Coteau. The Refuge provides important habitat for migratory birds as a breeding ground and stopping point along their great migration and provides habitat for a wide variety of native, resident species.
Activities
Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of wildlife dependent recreational opportunities including: hunting, birdwatching, wildlife observation, hiking, and photography. Please ask the Refuge staff for information regarding specific plant or animal species.
Trails
The Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge maintains the Prairie hiking trail, a 7.5-mile loop which has been designated as a national scenic trail.
Prairie Hiking Trail
- Open May through September
- The trail traverses rolling hills and lush wetlands, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the Prairie Pothole Region.
- Easy to moderate hiking
- Gravel and two-track grass surfaces
- The trail can be accessed along the west side of the auto tour route