State Parks and National Parks

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Los Banos, CA U.S.A.

C/O San Luis N.W.R
P.O. Box 2176
Los Banos, CA 93635-2176
U.S.A.

209-826-3508

Open Year-Round

No Entry Fee Charged

State Park Information

Merced, in California's northern San Joaquin Valley, is critically important to wintering waterfowl and attracts large concentrations of ducks, geese and lesser sandhill cranes.

The refuge protects about 10,262 acres of marsh, native upland habitat and agricultural cropland grown specifically for wildlife.

The marshes are flooded from September through June and attract thousands of migrating and wintering birds. By providing food for migratory waterfowl, the refuge's agricultural lands reduce waterfowl encroachment on private agricultural lands.

Visitors may tour the refuge and view birds along 5.2 miles of all-weather road and two walking trails, each one-half-mile long.

Visitors can also view migratory birds from two observation platforms. Seventeen blinds are available on the refuge during waterfowl hunting season.

A self-guided auto tour route encircles the eastern half of the refuge, offering visitors outstanding views of expansive flocks of lesser sandhill cranes, northern pintail, and Ross, snow and white-fronted geese, plus a diverse population of shorebirds and wading birds.

During the winter and spring, the unique tricolored blackbird can be seen.

A visitor observation platform, including telescope and interpretive panels, is located at the visitor contact station.

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