*Please be advised that there is little to no cell reception at the Refuge.  The best practice is to download an offline map to navigate the Refuge. Apps, like Avenza, work well while visiting the region.

From Reno (325 miles) via Lakeview, Oregon (best road conditions—paved roads):

1) Follow Highway 395 north for 235 miles to Lakeview, OR (gas, groceries, restaurants, hotels, hardware, vehicle repairs, hospital)

2) Continue following Highway 395 north from Lakeview for 5 miles.

3) Following signs for the Warner Mountain Ski area, Adel and Winnemucca, Nevada, turn east onto Highway 140.

4) Follow Highway 140 east for 85 miles.

5) Follow signs for Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Dufurrena Field Station, turning south onto Virgin Valley Road.

Alternate Route From Reno (224.5 miles) via Alturas and Cedarville, California (paved and graded gravel roads—NOT MAINTAINED IN WINTER):

1) Follow Highway 395 north for 181 miles to Alturas, CA (gas, groceries, restaurants, hotels, hardware, and vehicle repairs).

2) Continue following Highway 395 north from Alturas for six miles to the junction with Highway 299.

3) Following signs for Cedarville, turn east on Highway 299

4) Follow Highway 299 east for 16.5 miles.

5) Continue east through Cedarville (gas, restaurant, grocery, hotels, towing service, health clinic) on Highway 299 (becoming Nevada Route 8A- graded gravel road NOT MAINTAINED IN WINTER).

6) Follow Highway 299/ Road 8A for 21 miles to Road 8A and Road 34 Junction and signs for SHELDON WILDLIFE REFUGE. From this point you have two options to access the Refuge.

Option A: Follow Road 8A east from junction for 18 miles to Refuge southwest entrance

OR Option B: Follow Road 34 north from road junction for 22.7 miles to Refuge west entrance.

From Winnemucca (124 miles) via Denio Junction, Nevada (28 miles):

1) Follow signs for Melarkey Street, Highway 95, and Veterans Memorial Highway.

2) Follow Highway 95 north for 31.5 miles.

3) Follow Following signs for Denio, turn west onto Highway 140.

4) Follow Highway 140 west for 65.5 miles, past Leonard Creek Rest Area (30 miles) to Denio (groceries, restaurant, hotel)

5) At Denio turn west and continue on Highway 140 for 25 miles.

6) Follow signs for Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Dufurrena Field Station, turning south onto Virgin Valley Road.

7) Follow Virgin Valley road 1 mile to the Refuge Headquarters 8) Continue 1.5 miles to the Virgin Valley Campground.

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