About Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
Fallon National Wildlife Refuge is a 17,848 acre unit of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex, located in north-central Nevada, 20 miles northeast of the community of Fallon, and approximately seventy miles east of Reno. At the terminus of a branch of the Carson River, Fallon National Wildlife Refuge lies within the Carson Sink, and boasts the lowest elevation of Stillwater NWR Complex at 3800ft. This desolate patch of high desert is dominated by gently rolling to flat desert alkali-shrub habitat consisting of greasewood and saltbush. A system of both active and stable dunes also accentuates the topography in this area. Cultural history extends back to the Northern Paiute people known as the cat-tail eaters ('Toidikadi') and their occupation of the Stillwater marshlands several thousand years ago.Conditions at Fallon NWR are extremely primitive with no cell service or public use facilities (NO restrooms, water, trash, trails, picnic areas, etc.) For more information on Fallon refuge and the Stillwater NWR Complex or contact us at 775-423-5128 by email at stillwater@fws.gov.
How to Get There
To get to the refuge, turn north on Rio Vista Drive just east of Fallon and in about one half mile stay to the right onto Indian Lakes Road. Continue about six and one half miles and you will take a slight right where the pavement ends to stay on Indian Lakes Road. Keep going another thirteen miles and you will come to a refuge entrance sign. WARNING: When dry, the last ten miles or so require a high ground clearance vehicle. When wet, the road is nearly impassible even with four wheel drive.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Fallon National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Fallon National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Fallon National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1392) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Fallon National Wildlife Refuge?
To get to the refuge, turn north on Rio Vista Drive just east of Fallon and in about one half mile stay to the right onto Indian Lakes Road. Continue about six and one half miles and you will take a slight right where the pavement ends to stay on Indian Lakes Road. Keep going another thirteen miles and you will come to a refuge entrance sign. WARNING: When dry, the last ten miles or so require a h…
How do I contact Fallon National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 775-423-5128 or email: stillwater@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
