Welcome to the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge! This refuge is an oasis for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, wildlife, and plants.
Important Announcements
  • The Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge is open daily, year-round, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
  • Refuge roads are unpaved and so local weather conditions can alter accessibility throughout the year.
  • Spring through early fall are excellent times to visit the refuge for hiking and wildlife viewing, while mid-fall through winter brings the additional hunting opportunity.
  • The Visitor Center is open Mon-Fri from 8am to 4pm, excluding federal holidays. The Center will temporarily close during the day when refuge staff are in the field.
  • Please contact refuge staff by email at [email protected] or call 775-423-5128.

Visit Us

Residing just 17 miles northeast of Fallon, NV is the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is home to an incredible variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and desert mammals to include muskrat, coyote and mule deer, amidst an expanse of assorted vegetational habitat and food. More than 250 species of birds have been observed here throughout the seasons, and you can see many and more in several ways.

  • Entrance to the refuge is free of charge, though you are welcome at the Visitor Center to get brochures or add our stamps to your Refuge Passport stamp collection!
  • Hike on our designated trails with interpretive displays, or along refuge roads.
  • Take a tour on the Auto Tour Loop that starts by the Stillwater Point Reservoir and loops around Lower Foxtail Lake.
  • Take a short drive on Hunter Road to the northern portion of the refuge, which is open to hunting during the state hunting season.
  • View and download the refuge's English and Spanish brochures by clicking here.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge encompasses a whopping 80,000+ acres of dynamic landscapes including fresh and brackish water marshes, river corridors, alkaline beaches, desert scrub, sand dunes, and an island in a desert lake.

      What We Do

      The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purposes a refuge is established for, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purposes of the refuge. 

      Our Species

      Some of the key species at the refuge include shorebirds such as the American avocet and long-billed dowitcher; waterfowl such as the tundra swan and canvasback duck; and waterbirds such as the great blue heron and great egret.

      Our Library

      Stillwater NWR General Brochure (English)

      Stillwater NWR General Brochure with information for visitors in English.

      Stillwater NWR Brochure (Spanish)

      Stillwater NWR General Brochure with information for visitors in Spanish.