Where the Wild Things Are

As the human population grows and urban spaces continue to replace the natural world that has held dominion over the earth for millennia, only a select percentage of American land remains widely untouched. As of 2022, an estimated 477,024 square miles—just 13%—of U.S. land falls under federal protection. These are the places where people can go to see bucolic landscapes, wild plant growth, and majestic animals frolicking in their natural habitats.

Much of this protected land lies within the 573 wildlife refuges that compose the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) National Wildlife Refuge System. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a majority of these refuges is in the West, providing tourgoers a diverse selection of protected environments and ecological communities to explore. From sandy deserts and sprawling forests to towering mountains and rolling plains, the West is a region suitable for all manners of wildlife to thrive. Meet some of the West’s native inhabitants by visiting a wildlife refuge with your group.

The birders of your group might want to start with Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, Texas. Established in 1943, this 2,088-acre refuge aims to protect nearly 500 species of migratory birds and 300 species of butterflies. Because of its location along the juncture of two major migratory routes and its position as the northernmost point for many species whose migratory range extends south into Central and South America, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is dubbed the “jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System” by the USFWS.

“Although small in size,” says the USFWS, “Santa Ana offers visitors an opportunity to see birds, butterflies, and many other species not found anywhere else in the United States beyond deep South Texas.”

The refuge features a Visitor Center and more than 14 miles of hiking and biking trails. Visitors to Santa Ana might even enjoy an open-air tram ride or choose to participate in a guided nature walk.

In Commerce City, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is only 10 miles outside Denver. The refuge is home to bison, deer, raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, prairie dogs, coyotes, and much more. Rocky Mountain Arsenal is one of the largest urban refuges in the country, but it’s still a “sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of urban life,” according to the USFWS. Visitors to the refuge have access to 20 miles of easy hiking trails, an 11-mile Wildlife Drive auto tour, free nature programs, seasonal fishing opportunities, an archery range, and a Visitor Center—all with no entry fee.

Farther north, Alaska’s 19-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge preserves the wildlife and fish of northeastern Alaska. Located on the traditional lands of the Iñupiat and Gwich’in peoples, the refuge is approximately the size of South Carolina and has no roads or facilities, ideal for more rugged exploration. The refuge is home to three species of bear: black, brown, and polar; caribou; Dall sheep; muskox; wolves; wolverines; and more than 200 species of bird.

“The lands and waters are a critical home to migratory and resident wildlife, have unique recreational values, and contain the largest designated wilderness within the National Wildlife Refuge System,” says the USFWS. “A trip to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge can be an inspiring, life-changing experience. Whether you want to photograph, fish, hunt, challenge yourself with travel in the backcountry, or just spend quiet time in an immense and humbling landscape, this is a truly remarkable place.”

The refuge is open to the public free of visitor fees and specific entry points. Careful planning and preparation are recommended, and the refuge’s more isolated location makes it ideal for more advanced explorers. However, guided trips are available via recreational outfitters like Alaska Alpine Adventures, Arctic Treks LLC, Chugach Mountain Institute, or Expeditions Alaska.

Back in the continental U.S., Lima, Montana, is home to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge protects the largest wetland complex in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Located in the reaches of the Centennial Valley, the refuge has few roads and is fairly remote. Best accessed during the dry season, visitors to the 53,000-acre refuge should keep an eye out for mammals like the grizzly bear, elk, and deer. Red Rock Lakes has a Visitor Center, two primitive campgrounds, and two easy-rated hiking trails.

Visiting the Golden State with your group? Check out the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge near San Francisco, California. “The Farallon Islands National Wildlife refuge is surrounded by one of the most spectacular and biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet,” explains the USFWS. “While created to protect seabirds and marine mammals, the refuge also supports rare bird species and feeding grounds for whales and white sharks.”

Farallon Islands was established in 1909. Located just 30 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge, this preserve contains the largest seabird nesting colony south of Alaska and supports half the world’s population of Ashy storm-petrels. At the time of publication, this refuge is closed to recreational visits due to the sensitivity of the wildlife, but the USFWS is accepting volunteer groups looking to “make a lasting difference.”

In Sasabe, Arizona, the 117,464-acre Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is home to a wide variety of plants and animals that thrives among its semidesert grasslands, cottonwoods, and willow-lined riverbanks. Trails at the refuge are open to the public 24/7. Visitors to the refuge can enjoy camping, picnicking, and regularly scheduled educational opportunities. Found at the refuge is Brown Canyon, composed of 200-million-year-old volcanic rock. Among its rolling hills, marshland, and mesquite groves, visitors might spot several species of birds, white-tailed deer, ringtails, coatimundis, mountain lions, javelina, and even the occasional jaguar.

Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Paris, Idaho, is a part of the Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The preserve was established in 1968 for the protection of waterfowl and other migratory bird habitat. Just 7 miles outside of Montpelier, Bear Lake is home to 18,000 acres of cattail marsh, open water, and flooded meadows. There is no entry fee at the refuge, and public restrooms are available on the west side of the Salt Meadow auto tour route. Pro tip for a visit to Bear Lake (or any wildlife refuge): Don’t forget the bug spray!

Kansas is home to the Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge. “On the ancestral homelands of the Pawnee, the refuge lies in an area where the tall-grass prairies of the east meet the short-grass plains of the west,” describes the USFWS. “As a result, a mixture of wildlife, grasses, and wildflowers found from both prairie habitats are found on the refuge.”

Visitors to Kirwin will want to keep an eye out for colorful plant life, meadowlark, waterfowl, cranes, greater prairie chickens, black-tailed prairie dog, and white-tailed deer. The preserve offers picnic areas, a Visitor Center, an auto-tour route, and plenty of opportunities for wildlife photography, birding, and hiking. In fact, the refuge boasts two National Historic Trails through the prairie. Hard-surface trails make for accessible exploration that everyone can enjoy. Don’t forget to bring some binoculars and a trash bag for your garbage, as the park offers no waste bins.

Whether your group is seeking sweeping desert vistas, alpine meadows alive with songbirds, or wetlands teeming with migratory flocks, the refuges of the truly wild West promise memorable, meaningful experiences. By choosing these protected spaces as tour destinations, groups can enjoy immersive educational and recreational opportunities while also supporting vital conservation efforts that safeguard these habitats for generations to come. So, gather your travelers, chart a course for the wild, and discover the West at its most unspoiled.

By Madeline Fuerstenberg

Main Image: Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; Credit: Adobe/Danita Delimont