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National Wildlife Refuges in North Dakota

66 national wildlife refuges in North Dakota with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. McLean County has the most (8). The darkest skies are at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 1).

Top national wildlife refuges

Des Lacs National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Des Lacs National Wildlife RefugeWard County
J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife RefugeMcHenry County
Lost Lake National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lost Lake National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County
Tewaukon National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Tewaukon National Wildlife RefugeSargent County
Lake Ilo National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lake Ilo National Wildlife RefugeDunn County
Audubon National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Audubon National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County
Pretty Rock National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Pretty Rock National Wildlife RefugeHettinger County
National Wildlife Refuge
Lostwood National Wildlife RefugeBurke County
National Wildlife Refuge
Upper Souris National Wildlife RefugeRenville County
National Wildlife Refuge
Arrowwood National Wildlife RefugeStutsman County
National Wildlife Refuge
Florence Lake National Wildlife RefugeBurleigh County
National Wildlife Refuge
Half-Way Lake National Wildlife RefugeStutsman County

National Wildlife Refuges by county

All national wildlife refuges (66)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Des Lacs National Wildlife RefugeWard County—Kenmare1
J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife RefugeMcHenry County—Bottineau1
Lost Lake National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Washburn2
Tewaukon National Wildlife RefugeSargent County—Britton1
Lake Ilo National Wildlife RefugeDunn County—Killdeer1
Audubon National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Garrison1
Pretty Rock National Wildlife RefugeHettinger County—Lemmon1
Lostwood National Wildlife RefugeBurke County—Stanley1
Upper Souris National Wildlife RefugeRenville County—Minot Air Force Base1
Arrowwood National Wildlife RefugeStutsman County—Jamestown1
Florence Lake National Wildlife RefugeBurleigh County—Washburn1
Half-Way Lake National Wildlife RefugeStutsman County—Jamestown1
Hiddenwood National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Parshall1
Hobart Lake National Wildlife RefugeBarnes County—Valley City2
Rock Lake National Wildlife RefugeTowner County—Rolla1
Lake Alice National Wildlife RefugeTowner County—Cando1
Lake George National Wildlife RefugeStutsman County—Jamestown1
Lake Nettie National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Garrison1
Lambs Lake National Wildlife RefugeNelson County—Larimore1
Little Goose National Wildlife RefugeGrand Forks County—Larimore1
Long Lake National Wildlife RefugeBurleigh County—Lincoln1
Stewart Lake National Wildlife RefugeBowman County—Bowman1
Stoney Slough National Wildlife RefugeBarnes County—Valley City2
Storm Lake National Wildlife RefugeSargent County—Lisbon1
Stump Lake National Wildlife RefugeNelson County—Devils Lake1
Sunburst Lake National Wildlife RefugeSioux County—Linton1
White Lake National Wildlife RefugeSlope County—Bowman1
Willow Lake National Wildlife RefugeRolette County—Shell Valley1
Wintering River National Wildlife RefugeMcHenry County—Velva1
Johnson Lake National Wildlife RefugeGriggs County—New Rockford1
Lake Zahl National Wildlife RefugeWilliams County—Williston1
Lords Lake National Wildlife RefugeRolette County—Bottineau1
Appert Lake National Wildlife RefugeEmmons County—Linton1
Ardoch National Wildlife RefugeWalsh County—Grafton2
Bone Hill National Wildlife RefugeLaMoure County—Jamestown1
Brumba National Wildlife RefugeTowner County—Cando1
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife RefugeBenson County—Harvey1
Canfield Lake National Wildlife RefugeBurleigh County—Washburn2
Pleasant Lake National Wildlife RefugeBenson County—Rugby1
Rose Lake National Wildlife RefugeRamsey County—Devils Lake1
School Section Lake National Wildlife RefugeRolette County—Shell Valley1
Shell Lake National Wildlife RefugeMountrail County—Stanley1
Sibley Lake National Wildlife RefugeGriggs County—Carrington1
Silver Lake National Wildlife RefugeRamsey County—Cando1
Slade National Wildlife RefugeKidder County—Jamestown1
Snyder Lake National Wildlife RefugeTowner County—Cando1
Hutchinson Lake National Wildlife RefugeBurleigh County—Bismarck1
Lake Patricia National Wildlife RefugeMorton County—Mandan2
McLean National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Parshall1
Wild Rice Lake National Wildlife RefugeStutsman County—Jamestown1
Camp Lake National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Velva1
Sheyenne Lake National Wildlife RefugeSheridan County—Harvey1
Cottonwood Lake National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Velva1
Dakota Lake National Wildlife RefugeDickey County—Oakes1
Kellys Slough National Wildlife RefugeGrand Forks County—Grand Forks Air Force Base3
Maple River National Wildlife RefugeDickey County—Ellendale1
Tomahawk National Wildlife RefugeBarnes County—Valley City2
Rabb Lake National Wildlife RefugeRolette County—Bottineau1
Springwater National Wildlife RefugeEmmons County—Linton1
Lake Otis National Wildlife RefugeMcLean County—Velva1
Wood Lake National Wildlife RefugeBenson County—Fort Totten1
Chase Lake National Wildlife RefugeKidder County—Carrington1
Carr National Wildlife RefugeBenson County—Rugby1
Elbow Lake National Wildlife RefugeRolette County—Rugby1
Juniata National Wildlife RefugePierce County—Rugby1
Lake Elsie National Wildlife RefugeRichland County—Wahpeton1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph national wildlife refuges

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.