Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge

About Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge

Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Two federally listed endangered species, the Iowa Pleistocene snail and northern monkshood, are found on the refuge. Located in northeast Iowa, the 1,238 acre refuge includes units that range in size from six acres to 209 acres. Refuge lands include upland hardwood forests, grassland, stream and riparian habitats. Protection of endangered species is the primary management focus of Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge.

How to Get There

The refuge office is located at the McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The office and visitor contact station are located along Business Hwy 18 North, between the towns of Marquette and McGregor, Iowa.

Plan Your Visit to Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Driftless Area 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

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)