Skip to main content
Updated Sep 28
Pictured: Bitter Lake Refuge · typical peak look

Winter wildlifeseason guide 2026–27

Where is migrating and wintering wildlife peaking right now?

As of Sep 28, 2 of the 30 places we track are in their season: Merced Refuge (Sep 15–Mar 10) and Ridgefield Refuge (Sep 1–Dec 31). Next to start: Bitter Lake Refuge (from Oct 1), Deer Flat Refuge (from Oct 1) and San Joaquin River Refuge (from Oct 1).

Each season is the refuge's own, from its own page, not a forecast of numbers.

Updated Sep 28.

Which places are in their season

Winter wildlife right now

  • In its usual window, no report yet
  • Usually starts in October
  • Usually starts in November
  • Usually starts in December
  • Usually starts in January

No official report yet. Rings: places in their usual window; shaded dots: when the others usually start (usual timing, not a report).

Coming up this season

Seasons still to start: in October, Bitter Lake Refuge, Deer Flat Refuge, San Joaquin River Refuge, Fish Springs Refuge, Loess Bluffs Refuge, Bosque del Apache Refuge and Maxwell Refuge; in November, Bombay Hook, Chincoteague Refuge, Great Meadows Refuge, Hagerman Refuge, Merritt Island Refuge, Pocosin Lakes Refuge, Quivira Refuge, Sacramento Refuge, Santee Refuge, Sequoyah Refuge, Crystal River Refuge, Eastern Neck Refuge and St. Marks Refuge; in December, DeSoto Refuge, Forsythe Refuge, Point Reyes, Savannah Refuge and National Elk Refuge; in January, Blackwater Refuge, Ding Darling Refuge and Tennessee Refuge. The chart below shows how long each one lasts.

Each place's season

From each refuge's own page
  • Each place's own season, from its own page (not a peak, not a forecast)

Places by state

California

Washington

Know before you go

Practical facts from each place's own sources
  • Loess Bluffs Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 15–Nov 30

    • Is there a fee: No, there is no charge to visit.
    • When is it open: The auto tour, lands and trails are open daily, federal holidays included, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The visitor contact station is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., except federal holidays.
    • How do I get there: It's near Mound City, about 30 miles northwest of St. Joseph: take I-29 to Exit 79 just south of Mound City, then go south 2.5 miles on U.S. Highway 159. Dress warmly in winter.
    • Getting around: Eagle Overlook Trail: An easy 1.2-mile out-and-back walk from the south end of the auto tour, along the levee between Pelican Pool and Eagle Pool to a viewing tower
    • Top spot: 10-mile auto tour: Starts at the observation deck by the main entrance and loops past wetlands, grasslands and forest, with spotting scopes along the drive; open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
    Sources (1)
  • Bosque del Apache Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 20–Jan 31

    • Is the Tour Loop open right now: As of September 2026, the refuge says construction on water-control structures around the Tour Loop starts around September 29, 2026, and roads may close for safety with no set schedule. Call the visitor center at 575-835-1828 the day before or the day of your visit.
    • Is there a fee: $5 a day per private vehicle (cash, check or card), or $15 for a refuge annual pass; a Federal Recreation Lands Pass gets you in free. There's no ATM on the refuge.
    • When is it open: Refuge lands, the tour loop and trails: daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, federal holidays included. Visitor center: Thursday to Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Getting around: Scenic Drive (Tour Loop): About 12 miles, split into a South Loop and a North Loop, open daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; wildlife is often close to the road, and one-way signs apply
    Sources (1)
  • Maxwell Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 20–Feb 28

    • Is there a fee: No, there is no charge to visit.
    • When is it open: Trails and the auto tour loop are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes, on a leash.
    • Getting around: Cottonwood Nature Trail: An easy 1-mile walk through an old homestead woodlot used by raptors and songbirds; open sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week
    • Top spot: Lake 13: The refuge lake beside the primitive camping area, reached on Lake 13 Road past the visitor center; vault toilets at its entrance road
    Sources (1)
  • Chincoteague Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Dec 31

    • Festival: Waterfowl Weekend: northern refuge tours over Thanksgiving (Nov)
    • Is there an entrance fee: Yes for cars: passes start at $10.00 for a daily pass. Walking or biking in is free.
    • What are the hours in late fall and winter: From November through mid-March, refuge roads, the beach and trails are open 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. The Wildlife Loop opens to cars from 3:00 p.m. to dusk. The visitor center is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. but closes on Thanksgiving Day, December 24, 25, 26 and 31, and January 1.
    • Can I bring my dog: No. Pets are not allowed on the refuge, not even inside your car.
    Sources (2)
  • Great Meadows Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–30

    • Cost and permits: Concord Unit observation tower: A large tower an easy walk from the Monsen Road parking lot in Concord; open sunrise to sunset year round, with an entrance fee at this unit.
    • Is there a fee: Yes, there's an entrance fee at the Concord Unit.
    • When are the units open: Both the Concord Unit and the Sudbury Unit (Weir Hill) are open year round, sunrise to sunset.
    • Can I bring my dog: No. The refuge asks visitors not to bring pets.
    • Top spot: Dike Trail observation pier (Concord Unit): A pier midway along the Dike Trail overlooking the lower pool; the trail runs between the unit's two impoundments to the Concord River.
    Sources (1)
  • Pocosin Lakes Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Feb 28

    • Closures: Pungo Unit fields and moist-soil units closed to all entry; some roads closed to vehicles (Nov–Feb)
    • Closures: Pungo Unit may close on certain Fridays and Saturdays for permit-only deer hunts (Sep–Oct)
    • When is the refuge open: In daylight only, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
    • Can I bring my dog: Not on the Duck Pen Wildlife Trail. Elsewhere on the refuge, pets must be confined or on a leash no longer than 10 feet and under your control.
    • Top spot: Duck Pen Wildlife Trail (Pungo Unit): 0.55 mile one way on gravel through swamp forest to a photography blind over Pungo Lake, where thousands of swans and geese rest in winter. Park at the pull-off on South Lake Road without blocking the gate; no dogs
    Sources (3)
Show all 30
  • Sacramento Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Dec 31

    • Cost and permits: Sacramento NWR Auto Tour and observation deck: A 6-mile, one-way drive from the visitor center, open year-round from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; stay in your vehicle except at the 3 Park-and-Stretch areas. A multi-level observation deck with a restroom sits about halfway round. Entrance fee required.
    • Is there a fee: Only for the Sacramento NWR Auto Tour: a 1-day pass is $6 and an annual pass $12, bought digitally on Recreation.gov. A current Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful pass also works.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes. On the auto tour dogs stay in the vehicle, except at Park-and-Stretch areas where they must be leashed; on trails and in parking lots, use a leash no longer than 6 feet.
    • Getting around: Wetland Walk: 2 miles of trails from the visitor center through wetlands, vernal pools and riparian habitat, open year-round from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; the north loop is wheelchair accessible.
    Sources (2)
  • Sequoyah Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Jan 31

    • Is there a fee: No, there is no charge to visit.
    • When is it open: The Sandtown Bottom Unit, including Sally Jones Lake, is open daily from 5 a.m. until one hour after legal sunset. Headquarters is open Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes, pets must be on a leash or under control.
    • Getting around: Horton Slough Nature Trail: A 1-mile paved, accessible trail next to headquarters with an overlook on Sally Jones Lake, where thousands of snow geese and other waterfowl spend the winter
    Sources (1)
  • Crystal River Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 15–Mar 31

    • Closures: Seven warm-water manatee sanctuaries in effect (November 15 – March 31) (Nov–Mar)
    • Closures: Three Sisters Springs boardwalk: The most popular place to watch manatees from above the water in winter. Land access is by shuttle and gives no access to the water; trails open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on some holidays) and an entrance fee applies, set by the City of Crystal River.
    • Cost and permits: Visitor Center and Nature Store on Kings Bay: At 1502 SE Kings Bay Drive, with a view of the islands on Kings Bay and manatee displays; free, and open 9:00 to 4:00 daily from November 15 to March 31.
    • Is there an entry fee: The Visitor Center and Nature Store are free. Three Sisters Springs charges an entrance fee, handled by the City of Crystal River's Three Sisters Springs Center.
    Sources (2)
  • Eastern Neck Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 15–Mar 31

    • When is the refuge open: The outdoor areas are open every day of the year from dawn to dusk, except on posted hunt days. The Visitor Contact Station, in a historic hunting lodge, opens Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm, and can close during those hours for bad weather, high water or staffing shortages.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes: dog walking is one of the refuge's listed activities, and its trail pages mark Boxes Point and Duck Inn as dog friendly.
    • How do I get there: From Rock Hall, follow Route 445 (Main Street) about 8 miles to a small bridge; across it you're on the refuge, with an information kiosk at the first pull-off. The address is 1730 Eastern Neck Road, Rock Hall, MD.
    • Getting around: Boxes Point Trail: 1.1 miles round trip, from the Tubby Cove parking area; waterfowl, tundra swans included, often show here in late fall, winter and early spring. It may close seasonally for nesting bald eagles
    Sources (2)
  • St. Marks Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 20–Dec 25

    • How much is the entrance fee: $5 per vehicle, $1 per bike or pedestrian, or $25 for an annual refuge pass. America the Beautiful passes are honored.
    • When is the refuge open: Year round during daylight hours; the gate on Lighthouse Road opens at 6 a.m. The visitor center is open weekdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed on federal holidays.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes, pets are allowed on a leash.
    • Getting around: Lighthouse Levee Trail: Under half a mile, starting at the end of Lighthouse Road to the right of the parking lot; open on foot, by bicycle and on horseback.
    • Top spot: Headquarters Pond observation deck: A trail of under a quarter mile, across from the Tower Pond trailhead, leads to a small wooden deck at the pond's edge; park at Tower Pond, 5 miles south of the visitor center, next to the restrooms.
    Sources (1)
  • DeSoto Refuge

    Local timing: Dec 1–Mar 10

    • Closures: South gate and Green Heron Trail closed for migration season (Oct–Apr)
    • Is there a fee: Yes: $3.00 per vehicle per day, paid at the visitor center or self-service stations at the entrances. A $15.00 refuge annual pass, a Federal Duck Stamp and the America the Beautiful passes also work.
    • What are the hours in winter: From October 15 to April 14, roads and trails are open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and the auto tour route changes to keep disturbance to waterfowl low.
    • Getting around: Bob Starr Wildlife Overlook: A viewing blind at the end of the paved road from the visitor center, open all year; an active eagle nest sits directly across the lake
    • Top spot: Visitor center viewing windows: Indoor windows over DeSoto Lake where eagles, ducks and geese can be seen; open Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Sources (1)
  • Point Reyes

    Local timing: Dec 1–Feb 15

    • Can I bring my dog: Not to the best whale-watching spots: pets are prohibited in the lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas. In the park, dogs are allowed only on a few beaches, on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
    • Is there a fee to watch whales: There's no activity fee, though park entrance fees may apply.
    • How long is the drive: About 45 minutes from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to the lighthouse parking lot, then a 15-minute walk to the Lighthouse Visitor Center.
    • Getting around: Point Reyes Lighthouse: At the tip of the Point Reyes Headlands; about a 15-minute walk from the parking lot, with an accessible parking lot and a ~400-foot accessible path to the observation deck for placard holders
    • Top spot: Chimney Rock: The other headlands spot the park names as best for gray whales; the Elephant Seal Overlook is nearby
    Sources (2)
  • Blackwater Refuge

    Local timing: Jan 1–Feb 28

    • Cost and permits: Visitor Center: A prime spot to watch bald eagles soar overhead and hunt the nearby marsh, with an upstairs observation area; free, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
    • What does the Wildlife Drive cost: A daily vehicle pass is $3 ($1 on foot or by bike), paid by cash or check at the self-pay kiosk where the drive starts, or online at Recreation.gov. The visitor center and every public area outside the drive are free.
    • Are all the trails open in winter: Not always: the Marsh Edge Trail may close from midwinter to midsummer so nesting eagles and herons aren't disturbed. Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.
    • When is the visitor center open: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; it's closed Mondays and federal holidays. The outdoor public areas are open every day of the year, dawn to dusk.
    • Top spot: Wildlife Drive: 3.6 miles, with a vehicle pass; in January bald and golden eagles are sometimes easy to spot along it. Park in a pull-off or on the right before you step out
    Sources (2)
  • Ding Darling Refuge

    Local timing: Jan 1–Mar 31

    • Closures: Wildlife Drive: A 4-mile, one-way road at 15 mph, $10 per vehicle and closed every Friday; pull over on the right to reach the trails, overlooks and observation tower.
    • Closures: Wildlife and Education Boardwalk (Indigo Trail): Three-tenths of a mile along the Indigo Trail, a two-story observation pavilion over freshwater; the trail is $1 per person and closed Fridays, reached via Wildlife Drive by turning left at the fee booth.
    • What does it cost: The visitor and education center and the Bailey Tract are free. Wildlife Drive is $10 per vehicle and the Indigo Trail is $1 per person.
    • Is the refuge open on Fridays: Wildlife Drive and the Indigo Trail close every Friday, all year. The visitor and education center is also closed on Fridays and federal holidays; the free Bailey Tract is open sunrise to sunset year round.
    Sources (1)
  • Tennessee Refuge

    Local timing: Jan 1–10

    • Festival: Wings of Winter Birding Festival, Martin Luther King weekend in January (Jan)
    • Closures: Waterfowl sanctuary closures, November 15–March 15 (some areas, the auto tour and two visitor-center trails) (Nov–Mar)
    • Closures: Duck River Bottoms: Site of the refuge's public waterfowl and bald eagle tour in January. Its 3-mile Blue Goose Blvd. auto tour (550 Refuge Lane, New Johnsonville) is closed November 15–March 15.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes. Dog walking is allowed, with pets on a leash.
    • Top spot: Chickasaw National Recreation Trail (Big Sandy Unit): Open year round on the Big Sandy Peninsula, 13 miles north of the town of Big Sandy; loons use the Big Sandy Unit's open water from November.
    Sources (6)
  • Ridgefield Refuge

    Local timing: Sep 1–Dec 31

    • Is there a fee: Yes, Ridgefield is a fee site; the refuge's Rules and Policies page lists the entrance fee and passes.
    • Which trails stay open in winter: The Oaks to Wetlands Trail in the Carty Unit is open year-round. The Carty Trail from the Port entrance to the Gee Creek bridge is open only May 1 to September 30.
    • Getting around: Oaks to Wetlands Trail (Carty Unit): A year-round trail from the Carty Unit entrance; the parking lot has two ADA vault toilets and no running water
    • Open: Auto Tour open to vehicles only (Oct–Apr)
    • Top spot: Auto Tour route: Open year-round; from October through April you stay in your car, which keeps wintering waterfowl from seeing you as a predator
    Sources (1)
  • Merced Refuge

    Local timing: Sep 15–Mar 10

    • Is there a fee: No: the auto tour route and the nature trails are free.
    • What are the hours: The auto tour route and trails are open every day of the year, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
    • Can I bring a dog: Yes, on the nature trails, on a leash and under control at all times.
    • Getting around: Cottonwood Trail: Its own parking lot on the north side of Sandy Mush Road; open daily from fall through spring, on foot only
    • Top spot: 5-mile auto tour route (main entrance): From the main entrance on Sandy Mush Road, with the Meadowlark, Kestrel and Bittern Marsh trails; open daily, half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset
    Sources (1)
  • Deer Flat Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 1–Jan 31

    • Cost and permits: Observation Hill Trail viewing platform: Looks out over almost the entire Lake Lowell Unit; hike up through sagebrush, or request a permit to drive to the platform
    • When is the refuge open: Daily during daylight hours. The visitor center is typically open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on federal holidays.
    • Getting around: Swallow Nest Trail: An accessible trail across the Upper Dam, where you can see grebes, herons, egrets, Canada geese and a variety of ducks
    Sources (1)
  • Fish Springs Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 15–Jan 31

    • When is it open, and can I camp: Sunrise to sunset, every day of the year. Camping and overnight parking, RVs included, are not allowed. Dogs must be under your direct control.
    • Getting around: Auto Tour Route: Passes desert uplands, wet meadows, marshes and open water; open in daylight, 25 mph, and stop only in parking areas or on the road shoulder without blocking the road
    • Getting around: Thomas Ranch Watchable Wildlife Area: Apart from the roads and parking areas, the one place on the refuge open for walking, wildlife watching and photography
    Sources (2)
  • Merritt Island Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Apr 30

    • Is there a fee: Yes. A Refuge Pass is needed for Black Point Wildlife Drive and Bio Lab Road; the daily pass is $10 per vehicle, sold at the visitor center, online at Recreation.gov, or at self-pay stations with exact change.
    • When are the roads and trails open: Refuge roads, trails and boat ramps are open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center, with restrooms and a short boardwalk, is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
    • Getting around: Visitor Center Trail boardwalk: A quarter-mile, wheelchair-accessible loop right behind the visitor center, with views of two freshwater ponds; the visitor center is open Tuesday through Saturday.
    • Top spot: Black Point Wildlife Drive: A 7-mile auto tour and the refuge's most popular wildlife viewing area; a Refuge Pass is required, and the Cruickshank Trail starts off the drive with two observation towers near its start.
    Sources (3)
  • Quivira Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–30

    • What are the refuge's hours: The refuge is open every day from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset. The visitor center, at the south end of the refuge, is open 7:30 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays, except federal holidays.
    • Can I bring my dog: Yes, as long as it stays under your control at all times. From March 1 through August 31, dogs and other pets must be on a leash.
    • Getting around: Migrant's Mile Trail: One of the refuge's two main walking areas: a paved inner loop of about 0.6 miles, or just over 1.2 miles for the whole trail, through several habitats.
    • Top spot: Wildlife Drive at Big Salt Marsh (Auto Tour Route): A 5-mile Wildlife Drive inside the roughly 15-mile Auto Tour Route, with close-up views of Big Salt Marsh and many places to stop along the way.
    Sources (4)
  • Forsythe Refuge

    Local timing: Dec 1–Feb 28

    • How much does it cost: The Wildlife Drive costs $4 per car or motorcycle for the day, and $2 on foot or by bike. Passes are sold at the Visitor Information Center (cash or check only; it's open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm), and most can also be bought online.
    • What are the hours: The refuge, its trails and the Wildlife Drive are open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. The gate at the end of Great Creek Road opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.
    • Getting around: Leeds Eco-Trail and Boardwalk: Open year-round at the headquarters: a 400-foot boardwalk over the tidal salt marsh plus a quarter-mile (one way) path through maritime forest; wheelchair friendly
    • Top spot: Wildlife Drive: An 8-mile self-guided drive through salt marsh, freshwater habitat and upland forest, with observation towers at Gull Pond and Turtle Cove; open year-round, sunrise to sunset, $4 per car
    Sources (2)
  • Savannah Refuge

    Local timing: Dec 1–Jan 31

    • When is it open: The wildlife drive and all refuge lands are open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, unless posted otherwise. The visitor center is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except federal holidays.
    • Can I bring my dog: Only inside your car. Pets can ride along on the wildlife drive but may not leave the vehicle; they aren't allowed on refuge lands or trails.
    • Season: Refuge hunt season, August 15 through May 15 (check the hunt regulations for dates and areas) (Aug–May)
    • Top spot: Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive: A 4.5-mile drive, open sunrise to sunset every day of the year; it has no street address, so follow the signs at the visitor center entrance (694 Beech Hill Lane, Hardeeville, SC). Cars stay on the drive; the grassy dike trails off it are open to hiking and biking.
    Sources (2)
  • National Elk Refuge

    Local timing: Dec 15–Apr 10

    • Closures: Refuge pathway closed for wintering wildlife (November through April) (Nov–Apr)
    • Is there a fee, and what are the hours: There is no fee to visit the refuge. It is open year-round from sunrise to sunset; the visitor center is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Open: Refuge Road: only the first 3.5 miles open (December 1 – April 30) (Dec–Apr)
    • Top spot: Refuge Road and Miller Butte: Starts at the east end of Broadway in Jackson. From December 1 to April 30 only the first 3.5 miles are open; stay on the road or in designated pull-outs, and look for bighorn sheep on Miller Butte.
    Sources (1)
  • Bitter Lake Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 1–Dec 31

    • How do I get there: It's 7 miles northeast of Roswell: from the north side of town, take US 285 (Main Street) north to Pine Lodge Road, then east about 6 miles to the refuge entrance.
    • Timing tip: Visitor center open Mon–Sat, 9 am–4 pm (early September to early June) (Sep–Jun)
    • Top spot: Wildlife Drive: A 6.5-mile drive past wetlands, moist soil units, slow springs, shrubs and grasslands, with six trails near it and the visitor center
    Sources (1)
  • Bombay Hook

    Local timing: Nov 1–Dec 31

    • Closures: Dutch Neck Road and Allee House area closed (Sep–Feb)
    • Getting around: Bear Swamp Trail: A quarter-mile accessible trail off the Wildlife Drive through woods and freshwater marsh, with a 30 ft observation tower and a floating platform (those two aren't accessible)
    • Top spot: Wildlife Drive: 12 miles by car, bike or on foot past freshwater pools, salt marsh, woods and fields; open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, with an entrance pass
    Sources (1)
  • Hagerman Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Feb 28

    • Is there a fee: No, there is no charge to visit.
    • When is the refuge open: Lands, roads and trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. The visitor center is open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
    • Top spot: Wildlife Drive: A 2-mile auto tour along Lake Texoma, open daylight hours year-round; stay in your car and it works as a blind
    Sources (1)
  • Santee Refuge

    Local timing: Nov 1–Feb 28

    • Closures: Waterfowl sanctuary closures, November 1 to March 1 (Cantey Bay, Savannah Branch, Black Bottom and nearby land) (Nov–Feb)
    • What are the winter hours: The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk. The Bluff and Cuddo units have gates that are open 7 a.m.–5 p.m. from October 1 to February 28 (6 a.m.–8 p.m. the rest of the year), and the Cuddo Unit is closed on Mondays. The visitor center is open Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
    • Top spot: Wrights Bluff Nature Trail (Bluff Unit): A one-mile trail by the visitor center with an observation platform and a 15-foot tower; its north side along Cantey Bay is good for Canada geese and wetland birds. The gate is open 7 a.m.–5 p.m. from October 1 to February 28, and the areas north of the trail close November 1–March 1 for the waterfowl sanctuary.
    Sources (1)
  • San Joaquin River Refuge

    Local timing: Oct 1–Mar 31

    • Open: Beckwith observation area open (Oct–Mar)
    • Top spot: Beckwith Wildlife Observation Area: Elevated platform off Beckwith Road over seasonal wetlands and corn fields grown for wintering geese and cranes; usually open mid-October to mid-March, no restrooms or water, and binoculars help
    Sources (1)

Questions people ask

Where can I see winter wildlife?

We track 30 places: Bitter Lake Refuge (its season: Oct 1–Dec 31), Blackwater Refuge (its season: Jan 1–Feb 28), Bombay Hook (its season: Nov 1–Dec 31), Bosque del Apache Refuge (its season: Oct 20–Jan 31), Chincoteague Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Dec 31), Crystal River Refuge (its season: Nov 15–Mar 31), Deer Flat Refuge (its season: Oct 1–Jan 31), DeSoto Refuge (its season: Dec 1–Mar 10), Ding Darling Refuge (its season: Jan 1–Mar 31), Eastern Neck Refuge (its season: Nov 15–Mar 31), Fish Springs Refuge (its season: Oct 15–Jan 31), Forsythe Refuge (its season: Dec 1–Feb 28), Great Meadows Refuge (its season: Nov 1–30), Hagerman Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Feb 28), Loess Bluffs Refuge (its season: Oct 15–Nov 30), Maxwell Refuge (its season: Oct 20–Feb 28), Merced Refuge (its season: Sep 15–Mar 10), Merritt Island Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Apr 30), National Elk Refuge (its season: Dec 15–Apr 10), Pocosin Lakes Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Feb 28), Point Reyes (its season: Dec 1–Feb 15), Quivira Refuge (its season: Nov 1–30), Ridgefield Refuge (its season: Sep 1–Dec 31), Sacramento Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Dec 31), San Joaquin River Refuge (its season: Oct 1–Mar 31), Santee Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Feb 28), Savannah Refuge (its season: Dec 1–Jan 31), Sequoyah Refuge (its season: Nov 1–Jan 31), St. Marks Refuge (its season: Nov 20–Dec 25) and Tennessee Refuge (its season: Jan 1–10).

When is peak winter wildlife in 2026?

It depends on the place and the animal. Of the places we track, the earliest season starts at Ridgefield Refuge (Sep 1–Dec 31) and the latest runs at Merritt Island Refuge (Nov 1–Apr 30). Each place page gives its own season and the animals behind it.

Where can I see bald eagles?

At Blackwater Refuge (October–December), Bombay Hook (January–April), Chincoteague Refuge (January–February), DeSoto Refuge (December), Eastern Neck Refuge (December–February), Loess Bluffs Refuge (December–January), Maxwell Refuge (October–February), San Joaquin River Refuge (December–January), Sequoyah Refuge (October–February) and Tennessee Refuge (January), by each refuge's own calendar. Numbers vary from year to year and day to day.

Where can I see sandhill cranes?

At Bitter Lake Refuge (October–December), Bosque del Apache Refuge (October–January), Maxwell Refuge (October), Merced Refuge (September–March), Ridgefield Refuge (September–December), San Joaquin River Refuge (September–March) and Santee Refuge (December), by each refuge's own calendar. Numbers vary from year to year and day to day.

Where can I see snow geese?

At Bitter Lake Refuge (November–March), Bombay Hook (October), Bosque del Apache Refuge (November–January), Chincoteague Refuge (November–December), Loess Bluffs Refuge (October–November), Merced Refuge (October–November) and Pocosin Lakes Refuge (November–February), by each refuge's own calendar. Numbers vary from year to year and day to day.

How do you track winter wildlife?

Each place moves through 4 stages: Birds arriving, Numbers building, Peak numbers and Birds departing. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.