The mighty Missouri. The mighty Mississippi. The mighty Yukon. The U.S. has a mighty lot of mighty rivers. The main stems, or trunks, of 38 rivers in the United States are at least 500 miles long. They and other rivers bring clean drinking water, economic health, food for many native people, transportation and a mighty lot of recreation — especially on national wildlife refuges.
While not all of the nation’s legendary rivers are protected as Wild and Scenic Rivers, this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is a great time to get onto a river to fish, hunt, boat or just see the greatness of America.
Here’s a snapshot of some river recreation on America’s national wildlife refuges, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Alaska
"In northwest Alaska, the rivers teem seasonally with fish of various kinds: salmon, sheefish, whitefish, northern pike, Dolly Varden," says Susan Georgette, manager of Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. "I often tell people that living here is like seeing North America in its primordial state." The 2.15-million acre Selawik Refuge is on the Arctic Circle to the east of Kotzebue Sound and extends east to the headwaters of the Selawik River and the Continental Divide. The heart of the refuge is a vast complex of wetlands and lowland, rich habitat for wildlife.
The refuge gives visitors a chance to explore and discover the nature of Alaska on their own. Here you might see moose or muskoxen. The Western Arctic caribou herd is the largest in Alaska and seasonally roams through the refuge. Spring brings birds to the Arctic to nest, including some Asiatic species rarely seen anywhere else in the United States. Fish some 22,000 ponds and two large river deltas for Arctic char, chum, whitefish and grayling and northern pike. Bringing in a 40-50 pound inconnu is not uncommon.
"This state, and all its refuges, are so huge, yet there are very few roads," says Heather Bartlett, acting deputy manager of Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, which is bisected by the Yukon and Porcupine rivers. "Because of this, rivers become the roads. People use them as primary travel corridors. In the summer, travel is by boat and raft. In the winter, people travel by snow machine, skis and dog teams." The Sheenjek River is among the refuge’s major rivers.
A remote 8.6-million-acre wetland complex nestled between the White and Brooks Mountain ranges, Yukon Flats Refuge is a challenging destination in any season. But oh the rewards: chances to see dall sheep, moose, bear, wolves, wolverines and caribou. You can fish on some 20,000 lakes ponds and wetlands for northern pike, chinook, coho and chum salmon and Dolly Varden, among other species.
Georgia
"What makes the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge so unique is that you travel into the beating heart of two of the Southeast’s most pristine rivers — the Suwannee River and the St. Marys," says Refuge Manager Michael Lusk. "Both are important for wildlife and people. For example, the Suwannee River serves as important habitat for the threatened Gulf sturgeon, while the St. Marys River provides habitat for the endangered Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Both of these rivers, because they are so pristine, offer excellent fishing and boating."
A day or an overnight paddling trip through the Okefenokee is the experience of a lifetime. Alligators glide through tea-colored water. Herons and egrets wade through tall grasses and water lilies. Bears roam through hammocks and islands. The refuge has seven overnight shelters and three islands available for wildlife viewing and exploration in the swamp's interior.
You can hunt seasonally in three areas: the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (Eastside), the Pocket (Westside) and the Cowhouse Unit (Northside). Depending on where you choose, you can hunt for deer, turkey and small game or take your try at feral hog hunting.
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, along 261 miles of what may be America’s most celebrated river, is a hub of outdoor recreation and a boon to the area’s economic vitality. Divided into four districts, the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi River Refuge runs from the confluence of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin to near Rock Island in Illinois. Observation decks and canoe and bike trails are just some of the ways that visitors can view wildlife. Boating may offer the most intimate look at the river system. The refuge is known for its waterfowl hunting, and has year-long fishing, including famed ice fishing.
Marked canoe trails wind through the refuge’s marshes and backwater areas. The annual Great River Rumble July 28-August 4 takes paddlers from Keosauqua, Iowa, to Hannibel, Missouri, down the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers. The route passes through Upper Mississippi River Refuge.
Maryland
The Blackwater River and its marshes attract tens of thousands of waterfowl each winter along the Atlantic Flyway. "In the dead of winter, you will find wildlife watchers and waterfowl hunters alike attracted to the overwintering flocks," says Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge manager Marcia Pradines.
Winter is hardly the only time to visit the refuge. The number of migratory songbirds peaks in late April and early May. You can see white-tailed fawns, usually twins, and eaglets fledge from late May to mid-June. Osprey have returned in the spring from their wintering grounds. Autumn colors peak in October, and November brings tundra swans from Northwest Canada.
You can bike several routes, some of which are perfect for novices, others for experienced cyclists, all on a loop route along the paved Wildlife Drive. You can hunt for deer, turkey and waterfowl on some areas of the refuge. Fishing and crabbing from boats are allowed seasonally.
Massachusetts
Say Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and people think Plum Island. The barrier beach island is just part of the refuge’s approximately 4,700 acres that include sandy beach and dune habitat, cranberry bog, maritime forest and the Great Marsh, the largest continuous salt marsh north of Long Island Sound. The refuge attracts hundreds of songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl. Spring and fall are favorite paddling seasons because migratory birds are plentiful and mosquitoes and horseflies are not. Waterfowl hunting is available in designated salt marsh areas of the refuge during state seasons, and the refuge offers some of the area’s finest surf fishing.
Missouri
The Missouri River, at more than 2,400 miles, is the longest river in North America. People have depended on the river and its tributaries for sustenance and transportation for more than 12,000 years. Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge encompasses more than 17,000 acres of riverine habitat along the river and consists of 15 units, most of them along the lower Missouri River. What recreation it offers!
Hunting opportunities abound: deer, turkey, waterfowl, upland birds and small game. Scour lakes and ponds created and replenished by Missouri River give you the chance to fish for crappie, bass catfish, carp and more throughout the year. See migratory birds in the fall and spring. Beaver, bobcat and other secretive wildlife travel along the shore and in the water, especially in early morning or late evening. Trails bring you to the perfect places to watch what the river reveals. Don’t forget to take photos!
Nebraska
Thousands of people each year, especially kayakers and canoeists, use the nine miles of the Niobrara River that flow eastward across Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. Designated a National Scenic River, National Wilderness Area and a National Recreation Trail, this portion of the river brings people from around the world to relaxing float [truncated for length]
