The Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge is a large waterfowl habitat (7500 acres) located along a 9-mile section of the Wallkill River.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve and enhance populations of wildlife and their habitats, to protect and enhance water quality, and to provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and research. The refuge conserves the biological diversity of the Wallkill Valley by protecting and managing land, with a special emphasis on forest-dwelling and grassland birds, migrating waterfowl, wintering raptors, and endangered species.
The North American Waterfowl Management Plan identifies the Wallkill River bottomlands as a priority focus area for waterfowl management within New Jersey.
The Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge headquarters is located at 1547 County Route 565 (Glenwood Road), Sussex, NJ 07461. The Refuge is near Sussex and Unionville. Follow Rt. 23 to Rt. 565 for 1.4 miles to the Refuge office.
The Dagmar Dale Nature Trail is located at the Headquarters, where there are also public bathrooms, which are open daily year-round. Various environmental educational programs are conducted in and around the refuge headquarters throughout the year.
Please note that dogs are only allowed on the Liberty Loop Trail, utilizing the parking lots at Oil City Road or Owens Station Road. All dogs must be controlled on a leash at all times. Service dogs are allowed on all refuge trails and facilities.
The Refuge is located in Sussex County, New Jersey, and Orange County, New York. Congress established the refuge in 1990 to preserve and enhance lands and waters in a manner that conserves the natural diversity of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for present and future generations. The management emphasis is on Federally-listed endangered and threatened species, migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, nesting and wintering grassland birds, and forest-dwelling birds.
There are three nature trails on the refuge. Each nature trail provides an excellent wildlife viewing opportunity. In winter months, with proper snow conditions, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are allowed on these trails.
225 species of birds have been see,n including 24 raptor species. The occasional black bear & bobcat are also seen. There is a wildlife observation deck, Wood Duck Trail and hundreds of acres of upland grassland.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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