About Merced National Wildlife Refuge
The Merced National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 10,258 acres of wetlands, native grasslands, vernal pools, and riparian woodlands. It was established in 1951 under the Lea Act and Migratory Bird Conservation Act to attract wintering waterfowl from neighboring farmland where their foraging activities were causing crop damage. Changes to local agricultural practices and refuge management activities over the last several decades have reduced issues of wildlife causing crop damage on neighboring private lands. The refuge was also established to serve as inviolate sanctuary for migratory waterfowl.The refuge hosts the largest wintering populations of lesser sandhill cranes and Ross’ geese along the Pacific Flyway. Each autumn as many as 20,000 cranes and 60,000 arctic-nesting geese terminate their annual migrations from Alaska and Canada to make the refuge home. Here they mingle with thousands of other visiting waterfowl, waterbirds, and shorebirds – making the refuge a true winter phenomenon. The refuge also provides important breeding habitat for Swainson’s hawks, tri-colored blackbirds, marsh wrens, mallard, gadwall, cinnamon teal, and burrowing owls. Tri-colored blackbirds, a colonial-nesting songbird, breed in colonies of more than 25,000 pairs in robust herbaceous vegetation on the refuge. Coyotes, ground squirrels, desert cottontail rabbits, beaver, and long-tailed weasels are abundant mammal species and are present year-round.Vernal pools are unique and special wetlands found on the refuge. These special pools form when natural shallow depressions underlaid with clay soils fill with winter rainwater. The pools come to life as they fill with water: fairy and tadpole shrimp emerge from cysts embedded in the soils the year before. The endangered tiger salamander, along with other amphibians, lay eggs that develop into tadpoles in the pools. The vast number of aquatic invertebrates found in these pools provides a food source for wintering and migrating birds as they
How to Get There
From Los Banos: Travel east on Pacheco Blvd to Mercey Springs Road. Turn left on Mercey Springs Road. Continue on Mercey Springs Road for approximately 3 miles to Henry Miller Road. Turn right on Henry Miller Road and continue for approximately 7 miles to Turner Island Road (4-way stop). Turn left on Turner Island Road. After approximately 5.25 miles, turn right onto Sand Slough Road. Sand Slough Road will curve to the left and become Nickel Road. After approximately 1 mile, the road makes a sharp right and becomes Sandy Mush Road. Continue on Sandy Mush Road for approximately 3.5 miles to the refuge entrance on the right (south) side of the road.From CA-99: Take the CA-152 west exit and travel westbound on CA-152 for approximately 15 miles. Take the CA-59 north exit toward Merced and travel north for approximately 7 miles to Sandy Mush Road. Turn left on Sandy Mush Road and travel westbound for approximately 8 miles to the refuge entrance on the left (south) side of the road.From Interstate 5: Take the Los Banos/CA-152 east exit. Travel on CA-152 eastbound into Los Banos. Turn left on Mercey Springs Road. Continue on Mercey Springs Road for approximately 3 miles to Henry Miller Road. Turn right on Henry Miller Road and continue for approximately 7 miles to Turner Island Road (4-way stop). Turn left on Turner Island Road. After approximately 5.25 miles, turn right onto Sand Slough Road. Sand Slough Road will curve to the left and become Nickel Road. After approximately1 mile,
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Merced 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Merced National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Merced National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1511) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Merced National Wildlife Refuge?
From Los Banos: Travel east on Pacheco Blvd to Mercey Springs Road. Turn left on Mercey Springs Road. Continue on Mercey Springs Road for approximately 3 miles to Henry Miller Road. Turn right on Henry Miller Road and continue for approximately 7 miles to Turner Island Road (4-way stop). Turn left on Turner Island Road. After approximately 5.25 miles, turn right onto Sand Slough Road. Sand Slough …
How do I contact Merced National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 209-829-3508 or email: Rich_Albers@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
