Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Bicycling is welcome on designated biking trails adjacent to the refuge or along multiuse trails within refuge boundaries. Most trails are fairly flat and made with packed gravel. 

Located along the Mississippi Flyway, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is one of the best places around to see residential and migratory birds throughout the seasons! Over 290 species of birds migrate through the refuge across its 240,000 acre stretch, utilizing the...

Boating can be a great way to experience the refuge's habitats and wildlife! Most recreational boaters enjoy being on the water from May through September.

Refuge staff maintain 26 boat landings that generally accommodate 18 foot watercraft or less, due to ramp sizes and water depths. An...

Marked canoe trails wind through the marshes and backwater areas of the refuge. Canoe areas provide quiet, peaceful areas to paddle a canoe or kayak. 

Here are some tips for planning a safe and enjoyable adventure:

For those looking for a more rugged outdoor experience, primitive camping is allowed free of cost on islands on the Mississippi River that are within refuge boundaries (unless posted otherwise). There are no designated camping areas, campfire rings, drinking water or restroom facilities on the...

Leave the world behind and go for a quiet glide! Cross-country skiing is welcome on ungroomed multiuse trails when conditions allow, usually in mid-December through early March. It's a wonderful way to see evidence of winter wildlife!

Waterfowl hunters have long brought dogs to assist in retrieving their birds during the fall waterfowl hunting seasons. Training dogs in refuge waters by tossing a retrieval dummy or other object for out-and-back exercise is allowed, as long as dogs do not disturb or endanger wildlife or other...

Dogs are welcome on trails if they are on a leash and do not disturb wildlife or other visitors. On areas without trails, dogs must be under control of their owner at all times and must be leashed where signs are posted; dogs are not allowed to roam. Please pick up after your pet and be prepared...

Cutting, removing, or damaging any tree or other vegetation is prohibited without a permit. Cutting willow, up to a diameter of 2 inches, for trap stakes, commercial fishing gear, and hunting blinds on the refuge is allowed. Dead wood on the ground may be cut and used for campfires on the refuge...

The refuge is an angler's paradise! Anglers fish year round for walleye, sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bullhead, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish below the dams, in sloughs and channels between islands. In the winter months, the river becomes its own village as ice...

The stunning bluffs covered in hardwood forests provide a striking backdrop to the Mississippi River as it meanders. Habitat types include areas of open river water, braided river channels, floodplain forests, backwater marshes and adjacent prairies. Hunters are asked to respect “voluntary...

All-terrain vehicle (ATVs), utility-task vehicle (UTVs) and snowmobile use is allowed only during the winter months on ice over navigable waters accessed from boat landings. Please see the refuge Public Use regulations for more information. 

Drive-up overlooks along the river and hiking trails throughout the refuge offer opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities to capture the beauty of these scenic landscapes and the plants and wildlife that call them home. 

Whether you're carrying a camera with a telephoto lens or a smartphone, there are lots of opportunities for great wildlife and landscape photography on the refuge! 

Refuge staff lead public programs periodically across the seasons depending on staffing and availability - contact the District Office closest to you to find out more! 

Multiuse trails throughout or adjacent to the refuge are open to runners dawn to dusk. Most trails are relatively flat and are mowed or made of packed gravel. 

Male white-tailed deer shed their antlers each year sometime between late winter and early spring. Part of their natural growing process, these deer will regrow antlers again as the spring season progresses. Visitors are allowed to collect antler sheds for personal use only; it is not...

Slide into your snowshoes for a closer look at our winter world! Snowshoeing is welcome on multiuse trails when conditions allow, usually in mid-December through early March. 

Snowmobile use is allowed only during the winter months on ice over navigable waters accessed from boat landings. Please see the refuge Public Use regulations for more information. 

Furbearer trapping is part of a long standing tradition on the refuge. Trappers with a state-issued trapping license may apply for a refuge Special Use Permit, which allows the use of up to 40 traps per day on the refuge. Contact District Managers for more details about the trapping program,...

Of the bounty of wild foods available to animals on the refuge, there are a few nuts, berries, and other fruits that people also enjoy eating! Wild mushrooms and asparagus grow in the spring months. Blackberries, raspberries, wild grape, wild plum, choke cherries, hazlenuts, walnuts, and hickory...

National wildlife refuges are some of the best places to enjoy both residential and migratory wildlife! Here are just a few highlights of the seasons of wildlife:

April and May are some of the best times to experience the songbird migration, particularly before the leaves are fully...