Explore 58,700 Acres At The Largest Wildlife Refuge In North Dakota, The J. Clark Salyer NWR
By Leah|Published February 22, 2020
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Leah
Author
Leah moved to North Dakota when she was 12 years old and has traveled from the Red River Valley to the badlands and many places in between. She loves small-town life and currently enjoys living on a small farm in the ND prairie. She's always had a passion for writing and has participated in novel writing challenges such as NaNoWriMo multiple times. Her favorite part about this job is recognizing small businesses that deserve a boost and seeing the positive affect her articles can have on their traffic, especially in rural areas that might have otherwise gone overlooked.
Did you know that North Dakota has more wildlife refuges than any other state? With more than 60 refuges, there are tons of protected areas to discover and explore. The biggest wildlife refuge in North Dakota is the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, with thousands upon thousands of acres to explore. It’s perfect for a hike, picnic, or even a scenic drive. Here’s just a glimpse of everything it has to offer:
The J. Clark Salyer NWR is the biggest refuge in North Dakota at 57,800 acres. It is located in north-central North Dakota, right along the Souris River. Not only is it huge, but it's also one of the most important refuges in the entire country.
The land within the refuge varies from sandhills, tree groves, prairie, marsh, and of course the river and surrounding valley. With such a diverse habitat that is home to hundreds of species of animals and plants, there is truly a lot to explore.
Visitors at the refuge can stop by headquarters for information on the trails and access to an observation deck as well as picnic tables. The views from the deck are gorgeous and worth checking out, especially if you bring some binoculars.
The area along the river is perfect for spotting wildlife. Hundreds of birds, both migratory and permanent residents, are found here. Owls, eagles, ducks, herons, and geese are just a few of the possible sightings you might have.
Trails include hiking trails, canoe trails, and even 27 miles of autoroutes to take scenic drives and view the area from your car. These trails will take you through a variety of habitats and give you a true natural North Dakota experience. This refuge is one of only two places in North Dakota considered ecologically intact and true to the original landscape.
You could easily spend all day exploring the J. Clark Salyer NWR. Along with the trails, there are a multitude of public fishing areas, hunting permitted in specific areas and proper seasons, and great spots for picnics.
The refuge is open year-round from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The refuge office is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you love North Dakota nature, this spot should definitely be at the top of your bucket list.
You can learn more about the refuge and how to visit it on this website. Have you ever visited it before? If you do plan on checking out, be sure to bring a camera and share your photos with us on our North Dakota Nature Lovers group on Facebook. Check out some of the other nature parks in North Dakota here.
Do you know about other great places to explore the state’s natural beauty? Tell us about them here!
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