Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area

About Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area

The Patoka River in Southwest Indiana had long been recognized for its wetland and wildlife values on a local, statewide and regional basis. Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area was established in 1994 under the authority of the Emergency Wetlands Resource Act to protect one of the few remaining expanses of bottomland forested wetlands in the midwestern United States and one of two intact floodplain forest systems within Indiana. The authorized boundary (also known as the “acquisition boundary”) – which delineates where the Service can acquire property from willing sellers – encompasses 23,743 acres of wetlands, floodplain forest and upland buffer along 30 miles of the Patoka River corridor.

How to Get There

Straddling Pike and Gibson Counties in Southwestern Indiana, the refuge stretches 20 miles in an east-west direction along the lower third of the Patoka River. It is located 30 miles north of Evansville, IN by way of Interstate 69, and is adjacent to the small towns of Oakland City, IN along State Road 64 and Winslow, IN on State Road 61. The refuge headquarters is located at 510 ½ West Morton St. in Oakland City on the south side of State Road 64.

Plan Your Visit to Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area

Heading to Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area? 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)