Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day: find a refuge near your city
September 29 is Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day. More than 100 federal refuges sit within 25 miles of big cities, and October brings a fee-free day.
Today, September 29, is Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day. The Department of the Interior says the day was designated in 2018 through bipartisan congressional resolutions to highlight the refuges that sit close to where most Americans live.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 100 national wildlife refuges are within 25 miles of a city of 250,000 or more people. Examples include John Heinz at Tinicum near Philadelphia, the country's first urban refuge, Valle de Oro in Albuquerque, Masonville Cove in Baltimore and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in southeast Michigan. Depending on the refuge, you can walk trails, watch birds, fish or paddle a kayak.
To find one near you, the Fish and Wildlife Service has a location finder on fws.gov that covers its 570 national wildlife refuges. Each refuge page lists hours, trails and events, so it is worth checking before you go.
If today is too busy, mark your calendar for next month. National Wildlife Refuge Week runs October 10 to 17, 2026, and begins with Urban Wildlife Conservation Day on Saturday, October 10. On Sunday, October 11, refuges that normally charge an entrance fee offer free admission, and many plan special events during the week.
Tonight, look up the closest refuge to your home on fws.gov and check whether it has an event on October 10 or 11.
Sources
- On Urban Wildlife Conservation Day, Find Nearby Nature | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- National Wildlife Refuge Week | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Interior celebrates national wildlife refuges in urban areas | U.S. Department of the Interior
Facts were checked against these sources when the post was written. Details can change, so check them for the latest.