Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

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Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Established in 1990 by Public Law 101-593, the refuge straddles 9 miles of the Wallkill River at and just south of the New York--New Jersey border. Most of the refuge is in Sussex County, New Jersey, with the remainder in Orange County, New York. The refuge has more than 5,100 acres of land and is managed primarily for migratory bird habitat, the endangered bog turtle and wetlands. Where compatible, the refuge offers outdoor recreation opportunities including hunting, fishing, interpretation, environmental education, photography, wildlife viewing, hiking, canoeing and cross-county skiing. At the northern end of the refuge, in the black dirt wetlands, the refuge manages a series of waterfowl impoundments for migratory waterfows and shorebirds. Wood ducks, canvasbacks, mergansers, mallards and many other species frequent the refuge during spring and fall migrations. Raptors commonly use the refuge as well, with red-sholdered hawks, northern harriers and kestels frequently observed. Two miles of the Appalachiain Trail travel through the refuge, and the refuge has three additional walking trails.