Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge

About Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1980, Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge is one of nine refuges in the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The refuge encompasses 2,418 acres in west-central Mississippi. The refuge’s primary habitat feature is Mathews Brake, the largest brake in Leflore County. Each winter the brake provides habitat for more than 30,000 ducks.

How to Get There

Traveling from Greenwood, take Highway 49 south approximately 9 miles to Sidon, MS. Turn right (west) at Sidon and travel through Sidon. After crossing the railroad tracks, take the second street to the left. Follow this paved road approximately 5 miles. After crossing the first bridge, travel approximately 100 yards and take the first paved road to the left (south). Travel approximately a half mile and take the first gravel road to the right. This road will take you to the refuge Kiosk and boat ramp. There is no staffed office on Mathews. For maps, please go to: http://mathewsbrake.fws.gov/directions.html

Plan Your Visit to Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Mathews Brake 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)