Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

About Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge was established June 12, 1939 by Franklin D. Roosevelt through Executive Order. The Refuge was created as a breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Other Refuge purposes include fish and wildlife-oriented recreation, environmental education, interpretation, conservation of endangered species, and protection of cultural and natural resources. Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge has 4,033 acres of wetlands, native prairie, and planted grasslands.Lake Ilo and smaller wetlands are the main attraction for wildlife to this Refuge. Lake Ilo is 1,240 acres with a maximum depth of 15 feet. A 145-acre marsh, Lee Paul Slough, is attached to Lake Ilo by a canal. The slough provides a location to view marsh animals and plants. Another two dozen smaller wetlands make up the remaining Refuge wetland habitat. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife species find the wetlands attractive as summer breeding habitat and as a spring and fall migration stop. Water development and management has made Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge a very important resource for wildlife and people.

How to Get There

Lake Ilo is located 1 mile west of Dunn Center, North Dakota; along Highway 200.

Plan Your Visit to Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Lake Ilo 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)