Mingo Refugespring migration
April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Right now at Mingo Refuge
Right now in Mingo Refuge · September
- Bald cypress turn color in September · Sep
- Fall migratory birds: September and October are the best months · Sep–Oct
- Ozark Highlands Auto Tour Route and Sweet Cabin Trail open, March to November · Mar–Nov
- All refuge waters open to fishing and boating, March 1 to September 30 · Mar–Sep
Your guide to the area
Where to watch
- Swampwalk Nature TrailAn accessible 0.8-mile raised boardwalk and asphalt path through bottomland hardwood forest beside Ditch 11, near Rockhouse Marsh just below the visitor center; open all year, reached from Bluff Road off MO-51 or down the short, steep Bluff Trail from the visitor center
- Ozark Highlands Auto Tour RouteOne of the refuge's three wildlife drives, open March to November when conditions and weather allow (it can close at any time for maintenance or management); the 0.8-mile round-trip Sweet Cabin Trail starts near Stanley Creek along it
Nearby
- Dahomey Refuge230 miMarch – June
- Wheeler Refuge245 miApril: Teal migration is at its peak.SatShowers And Thunderstorms
- Swan Lake Refuge247 miApril and MaySatPartly Sunny
- Port Louisa Refuge298 miApril to MaySatMostly Sunny
- Flint Hills Refuge331 miApril and May are the best time of yearSatPartly Sunny
- Loess Bluffs Refuge348 mifrom mid-February, peaking in mid-MarchSatPartly Sunny
The year at Mingo Refuge
- Ozark Highlands Auto Tour Route and Sweet Cabin Trail open, March to NovemberNowMar–Nov
- All refuge waters open to fishing and boating, March 1 to September 30NowMar–Sep
- Spring migratory birds: April and May are the best monthsApr–May
- Fall migratory birds: September and October are the best monthsNowSep–Oct
- Sep: Bald cypress turn color in SeptemberNowSep
- Oct: Fall color peak, usually the last week of OctoberOct
- Waterfowl sanctuary areas closed to access, October to FebruaryOct–Feb
- Winter waterfowl in large numbers, November to February (peak usually early to mid-December)Nov–Feb
- Bald eagles nest, December to AprilDec–Apr
- More bald eagles as winter visitors arrive, December to FebruaryDec–Feb
Mingo Refuge in pictures
Questions people ask
When is the best time to see spring migration at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge?
April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: April and May are the best months. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is spring migration under way at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge right now?
Not now: its usual spring migration window for this year has passed. Next time: April and May are the best months, local timing.
Is there a fee?
Yes. Every vehicle needs an entrance permit all year: a $3 daily permit (sold at the visitor center and at the entrance kiosks), a $12 Mingo annual pass, a Federal Duck Stamp or an interagency pass.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is it open?
Refuge lands and trails are open daily from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. The visitor center is open Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on federal holidays.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What should I bring?
Binoculars or a camera, sunglasses, insect repellent with long sleeves and pants, water, snacks, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and layers. In warmer months ticks, chiggers and poison ivy are around, and cell coverage can be spotty.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When in the day is best?
Morning and evening are the best times to see wildlife. Weekends are the busiest, but there's plenty of room to spread out.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What address should I put in my GPS?
Use 24279 MO-51, Puxico, MO 63960: the refuge says typing its name won't bring you to the right place. The visitor center is 1.5 miles north of Puxico on MO-51.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mingo NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge?
Swampwalk Nature Trail: an accessible 0.8-mile raised boardwalk and asphalt path through bottomland hardwood forest beside Ditch 11, near Rockhouse Marsh just below the visitor center; open all year, reached from Bluff Road off MO-51 or down the short, steep Bluff Trail from the visitor center; Ozark Highlands Auto Tour Route: one of the refuge's three wildlife drives, open March to November when conditions and weather allow (it can close at any time for maintenance or management); the 0.8-mile round-trip Sweet Cabin Trail starts near Stanley Creek along it.
Are there closures or permits to know about in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge?
Waterfowl sanctuary areas closed to access, October to February (Oct–Feb).
What is Mingo National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Bald cypress turn color in September (Sep), Fall color peak, usually the last week of October (Oct), Spring migratory birds: April and May are the best months (Apr–May), Fall migratory birds: September and October are the best months (Sep–Oct), Winter waterfowl in large numbers, November to February (peak usually early to mid-December) (Nov–Feb), More bald eagles as winter visitors arrive, December to February (Dec–Feb), Bald eagles nest, December to April (Dec–Apr), Ozark Highlands Auto Tour Route and Sweet Cabin Trail open, March to November (Mar–Nov), Waterfowl sanctuary areas closed to access, October to February (Oct–Feb) and All refuge waters open to fishing and boating, March 1 to September 30 (Mar–Sep).