Photo
Las Vegas is part of a vast and varied network of parks and protected areas ranging from city parks to wildlife refuges.
One of the gems is 30 miles to the northwest. Desert National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) includes more than 1.5 million acres of the Mojave Desert in southern Nevada and is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the lower 48 states.
Google Maps
goo.gl/maps/UdnFtpJHRh6y6Yxm9
2020
Congress rejects expansion of Nevada Test and Training Range into wildlife refuge
History
The refuge opened May 20, 1936.
Visiting
The Visitor Center (Thursday-Sunday, 8am-430pm) has interactive exhibits, a bookstore, and a classroom with a 17-minute film. Outside the building are trash and recycling, restrooms and water fountains. There are benches around the back of the building and located around the trails.
As for eating, you’re welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy at the picnic tables behind the visitor center. The bookstore offers trail mix and granola bars available for purchase, but if you’re looking for an actual meal to buy the closest place is the Paiute reservation, off the Snow Mountain exit (around 10 miles south of the Visitor Center.)
The visitor center and trails offer insights into the Indigenous Paiute culture.
Birding
Desert NWR is considered to be one of the finest birding sites in southern Nevada, with over 320 species seen on the refuge. Please see the center’s bird list for a complete listing.
Green Building
The Visitor Center has been awarded Platinum-level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. Parking is available in a carport shaded by solar panels. Classy!
Location
30 miles northwest of Las Vegas
Key Links
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/desert
usfws flickr
DesertNWR – Facebook
http://4sq.com/dB58Vk
Driving Directions
Twitter: @USFWS
Phone (702) 879-6110
Nearby
Spring Mountains
Tule Springs
Headlines
Pentagon to lawmakers: Let Interior keep wildlife refuge
Military takeover of Nevada wildlife refuge angers conservationists
Center for Biological Diversity
Final Defense Bill Denies Military Request to Expand Nevada Bombing Ranges
Facebook
DesertNWR
AshMeadowsNWR
Twitter
@USFWS
@USFWSPacSWest
@friendsofnvwild
Friends of
http://fdnwrc.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofDesertWildlifeRefuges
Elsewhere
desertreport.org/?p=945
refugeassociation.org/southern-nevada
Volunteering
http://www.nevadawilderness.org/fall_planting_at_desert_national_wildlife_refuge
Flickr
desert national wildlife refuge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/sets/72157625757284786
Promotion
http://findyourpark.vegas/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Desert-National-Wildlife-Refuge-Rack-Card.pdf
Misc
FYI – Visitors center opened February 22, 2014.
http://www.mountain.org/updates/mountain-institute-facilitates-integration-nuwuvi-southern-paiute-knowledge-design-and-conte
Embedded Tweets
Wikipedia
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Planeta.com