Eighteen miles south of Washington D.C., on the banks of the Potomac River, lies a peninsula known as Mason Neck. Here, on February 1, 1969, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created the first national wildlife refuge established specifically for the protection of our nation’s symbol, the bald eagle.
Trash Free Refuge

We are becoming a trash free refuge. Please pack it in and pack it out. We hope that by eliminating the trash cans there will be less liter. Please dispose of your trash at home or at another appropriate location. 

Visit Us

A view of the entrance sign for Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR, and main road passing through fall foliage in the surrounding forest.
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Just 18 miles south of Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a quiet escape into forest, freshwater marsh, and Potomac River shoreline. Walking trails wind through the woods and out to marsh overlooks, offering chances to see bald eagles, great blue herons, waterfowl, and other wildlife in every season. Whether you come for the wildlife, the scenery, or a little solitude, the refuge is a good place to slow down and connect with the natural world on the Neck.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      A photo of a marsh landscape
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      Established in 1969 on a boot-shaped peninsula between the Potomac and Occoquan rivers, Mason Neck was the first national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge       created specifically to protect bald eagles. Local resident Elizabeth Hartwell, known as “The Eagle Lady,” led the citizen effort that stopped a planned community and airport on the peninsula, and Congress renamed the refuge in her honor in 2006. Today it protects upland forest and freshwater marsh at the edge of a growing metropolitan area, and it is managed with Occoquan Bay and Featherstone refuges as part of the Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

      What We Do

      We manage the refuge’s mature mixed-hardwood forest, marshes, and shoreline to support breeding and wintering bald eagles, great blue herons, and other native wildlife. Our work combines science-based habitat management, careful monitoring, and long-term planning to keep this peninsula healthy for wildlife. We also balance conservation with opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about the refuge.

      Our Species

      A juvenile eastern ratsnake with a gray diamond pattern along its back. The small snake is curled up on bright green moss.
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      While bald eagles are our priority species, Great Marsh is home to one of Virginia’s largest great blue heron breeding colonies, and the forests and wetlands also support white-tailed deer, wood thrush, wood ducks, barred owls, and eastern box turtles. Every season brings something different, from eaglets fledging in June to waterfowl and tundra swans overwintering in the marsh. The diverse habitats of Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge host over 211 bird species, more than 200 plant species, 31 mammal species, and 40 species of reptiles and amphibians. Visit our Species page to learn more about the inhabitants of Mason Neck! 

      Get Involved

      Neighbors, students, and nature lovers all have a role in caring for Mason Neck. Interested in getting involved with what we do at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge? Visit the link below to learn more.

      Projects and Research

      A Great Blue Heron wading through the wetlands at Occoquan Bay NWR
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      Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge focuses management efforts on the protection of habitat and nesting sites for bald eagles, herons, and other avian species. Current practices are mostly passive, utilizing the natural processes within the hardwood forest to maintain desired habitat.