Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

About Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

The name Seedskadee originated from local tribes' word "Sisk-a-dee-agie" meaning "river of the prairie hen." The 26,210 acre Refuge protects a mosaic of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green River in southwest Wyoming. The riparian corridor of the Green River is an important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory waterfowl and passerine bird species. Many insects, big game and small mammals can be found on the Refuge as well as resident and migratory birds. Refuge lands are also rich in historic and cultural resources. The area was used by nomadic Indian tribes, fur trappers, and early pioneers. Thousands of pioneers crossed the treacherous Green River on what is now Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. The Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails, as well as the Pony Express Route, which all cross the refuge, have been designated as National Historic Trails by Congress. Jim Bridger and others operated ferries on the Green In the 1840's and 1850's. Diaries of immigrants often mention the crossing on the river and its difficulties. Ferries were swept away by the strong currents and lives and possessions were lost. To this day, some of the trails can be traced across the Refuge by their ruts. Seedskadee is a unique and important component of the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) which includes more than 565 refuges totaling over 93 million acres across the United States. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 through the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. Section 8 of this Act provided for the establishment of wildlife habitat development areas to offset the loss of wildlife habitat resulting from reservoir development in the Colorado River Drainage. The Seedskadee Reclamation Act of 1958 specifically authorized acquisition of lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. In 1997, Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This Act required develop

How to Get There

From South (Green River / Rock Springs areas)Head west on Interstate 80, nine miles after Green River turn north on La Barge Highway 372 (Exit 83). Travel 27 miles north on La Barge Hwy 372 and after the junction with Hwy 28 take the first right. Headquarters and Visitor's Center is 2.5 miles down the gravel entrance road.From North (La Barge / Kemmerer / Diamondville areas)From the intersection of Hwy 189 and Hwy 372, head east on Hwy 372. After eight miles the road will come to a 4-way intersection at Fontenelle Store, turn right and travel South on Hwy 372 for 13 miles. Just before the junction with Hwy 28 turn left onto the Seedskadee Entrance Road. Travel down graveled entrance road for 2.5 miles to Refuge Headquarters and Visitor's Center.From East (Farson / Hwy 28 / Lander areas)Head West on Hwy 28 at intersection of Hwy 191 and Hwy 28 in Farson for 25 miles. Just after Hwy 28 crosses the Green River turn north (right) onto gravel road and travel 3 miles to Refuge Headquarters and Visitor's Center. For a map of the Refuge, see the general brochure or on our Refuge Regulations sheet.

Plan Your Visit to Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Seedskadee 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)