Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho, 12 miles northeast of Rupert. It includes 80 miles of shoreline around Lake Walcott, from Minidoka Dam upstream about 25 miles. The refuge headquarters is located in Lake Walcott State Park

Visit Us

Visitors are welcome at Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge year-round and the refuge provides good opportunities to view wildlife. Birdwatching, hiking, fishing, and hunting are some of the recreational opportunities you can enjoy on the refuge. Additional activities are available at Lake Wolcott State Park including a campground and disc golf course. 

Location and Contact Information

      Need a Permit?

      Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law.  Service permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife. 

      Visit our Special Use Permits websites, or contact the refuge manager at (208) 436-3589 for assistance.

      About Us

      Dozens of American White pelicans sitting on nesting islands in the middle of a lake.
      Image Details

      The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The US Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam and power plant and controls the water levels in the reservoir. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation manages Lake Walcott State Park, a 30 acre fee area park near the dam that offers campgrounds, picnic areas, a disc golf course, cabins, and a boat ramp.