Visit Us
The refuge is located in the Lahontan Valley of north-central Nevada, near the community of Fallon, about seventy miles east of Reno. These tremendously rich and diverse wetlands attract more than a quarter million waterfowl, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds, and over 20,000 other water birds. More than 290 species of birds have been sighted in the area. Resident wildlife such as coyotes, Mule deer, White-tailed antelope ground squirrels, Jack and Cottontail rabbits, Kangaroo rats, lizards, snakes, and many insects can be seen in abundance. The Stillwater NWR wetlands are well-known by both birders and waterfowl hunters from around the country. A variety of activities await visitors to this 'Oasis in the Desert', but plan ahead and check weather, roads and recent sightings before you go.
Activities
Restrooms are located on the refuge at Stillwater Point Reservoir, the pavilion on the auto tour route, the Tule Trail trailhead, East Division Road camping area, and Center Road camping area.
If you have 15-minutes:
- Walk interpretive trail to Stillwater Point Reservoir observation platform.
If you have one hour:
- Walk interpretive trail to Stillwater Point Reservoir observation platform.
- Drive Auto Tour Route. Stop at pavilion, walk out into the marsh on the board walk and check out the Paiute Path across the road.
If you have half a day or more:
- Walk interpretive trail to Stillwater Point Reservoir observation platform.
- Drive Auto Tour Route. Stop at pavilion, walk out into the marsh on the board walk and check out the Paiute Path across the road.
- Drive north on Hunter Road and explore the undeveloped marsh.
The refuge is remote, undeveloped, and cell phone service is unreliable. Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water, snacks, insect repellant, sunscreen and other necessities.
Trails
Trail 1
Trail Name: Tule Trail
Open Season: Open year round
Length: 1.5 miles
Location of trail: Three-quarters of a mile north of East County Road off of Hunter Road.
Surface: Compacted gravel
Difficulty: Easy. Completely flat.
Information: The Tule Trail follows an irrigation canal, passes two small ponds, and winds through several managed fields. There is a photo blind about half-way on one of the ponds. There are numerous interpretive panels and several benches along the way.
Trail 2
Trail Name: Stillwater Point Reservoir Trail and observation platform
Open Season: Open year round
Length: 275 yards
Location of trail: One-half mile east of Hunter Road off of East County Road.
Surface: Compacted Gravel
Difficulty: ADA Compliant
Information: The trail to the observation platform has several interpretive signs describing the history of the area as it winds through the salt desert scrub.
Trail 3
Trail Name: Duff’s Pond Boardwalk
Open Season: Open year round
Length: 200 yards
Location of trail: About half-way round the auto tour route.
Surface: Compact gravel/wooden boardwalk
Difficulty: ADA compliant
Information: From the pavilion, it is a short walk out into the marsh.
Trail 4
Trail Name: Paiute Path
Open Season: Open year round
Length: About 150 yards
Location of trail: Just across from the Duff’s Pond boardwalk on the auto tour route.
Surface: Compacted gravel.
Difficulty: Slight incline. Bench at the top.
Information: Trail has interpretive panels that describe the local Native American culture.
Trail 5
Trail Name: Service Roads
Open Season: Open year round
Length: Miles and miles…..
Location of trail: Various
Surface: Dirt
Difficulty: Arduous
Information: There are numerous roads on the refuge that are only open to refuge vehicles, but they may be accessed by the public on foot.
Other Facilities in the Complex
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge and Fallon National Wildlife Refuge are managed as part of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Rules and Policies
The Basics:
Some of the things not allowed on the refuge include, but are not limited to:
- Unregistered motor vehicles (i.e. ATV’s)
- Driving off-road
- Campfires
- Dogs off leash
- Collecting artifacts
See brochure and/or contact refuge office for all current regulations.
Refuge-Specific Hunting Regulations
| e-CFR data is current as of September 1, 2020 |
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 26—PUBLIC ENTRY AND USE
Subpart C—Public Use and Recreation
§26.34 What are the special regulations concerning public access, use, and recreation for individual national wildlife refuges?
(4) Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. (i) We prohibit boating outside of the waterfowl and youth waterfowl hunting season except in Swan Check Lake, where we allow nonmotorized boating all year.
(ii) We prohibit boats on Swan Lake, the northeast corner of North Nutgrass Lake, and the north end of Pintail Bay. We allow the use of nonmotorized carts, sleds, floating blinds, and other floating devices in these areas to transport hunting equipment and to conceal hunters, but not to transport hunters.
(iii) We only allow outboard motor boats on Lead Lake, Tule Lake, Goose Lake, South Nutgrass Lake, the southeast corner of North Nutgrass Lake, and south end of Pintail Bay.
(iv) We only allow air-thrust boats on Goose Lake, South Nutgrass Lake, the southeast corner of North Nutgrass Lake, and the south end of Pintail Bay.
(v) You may not operate air-thrust boats until 1 hour after the legal shooting time on opening day of waterfowl season.
(vi) We require air-thrust boat owners to get a Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-G) from the refuge manager and to display a number on their airboats.
(vii) We allow nonmotorized boats on all lakes and bays except Swan Lake, the northeast corner of North Nutgrass Lake, and the north end of Pintail Bay.
(viii) We allow camping only in designated areas.
PART 32—HUNTING AND FISHING
§32.47 Nevada.
The following refuge units are open for hunting and/or fishing as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional refuge-specific
(c) Fallon National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, swan, coot, merganser, snipe, and dove on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow motorized and nonmotorized boats for hunting.
(ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting game birds.
(iii) We allow overnight stays while hunting subject to the following conditions:
(A) You may stay overnight only at designated sites within the refuge boundary.
(B) We limit overnight stays to 4 consecutive nights at one location, and to 12 consecutive nights on the refuge.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of quail, rabbit, turkey, badger, beaver, and coyote on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section apply.
(ii) We allow artificial lighting for hunting coyotes.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of mule deer and pronghorn on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: The condition set forth at paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section applies.
(4) [Reserved]
(g) Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, swan, coot, merganser, snipe, and dove on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow the use of dogs when hunting game birds.
(ii) We allow overnight stays while hunting subject to the following conditions:
(A) You may stay overnight only at designated sites within the refuge boundary.
(B) We limit overnight stays to 4 consecutive nights at one location, and to 12 consecutive nights on the refuge.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of quail, rabbit, turkey, badger, beaver, and coyote on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) Approved methods of take include shotgun and federally approved non-lead shot, bow and arrow, and falconry.
(ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting.
(iii) The condition set forth at paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section applies.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of mule deer and pronghorn on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) Approved methods of take include shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, and bow and arrow.
(ii) The condition set forth at paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section applies.
(4) [Reserved]
[84 FR 47675, Sept. 10, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 54126, Aug. 31, 2020]
Locations
To get to the refuge, go about four and a half miles east of Fallon, NV on Highway 50, then head east on State Route 116, otherwise known as Stillwater Road. Stay on Stillwater Road for another twelve miles. You’ve reached the refuge when the pavement ends, but you’ll need to keep going to find the marsh!
Head east on US-50 E/E Williams Avenue past the Banner Churchill Community Hospital to leave town and turn left onto NV-116 E before the Harmon Junction Grocery store. Continue for about 10 miles where you will then turn left onto Freeman Lane, and our headquarters is the first farmhouse on the left, 3175 Freeman Lane. And while we are no longer in a medical building, our prescription remains to help you get out to enjoy nature!