About Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
The Little Pend Oreille, pronounced "ponderay," National Wildlife Refuge is located in northeastern Washington about 70 miles north of Spokane, 40 miles west from the panhandle of Idaho, and 40 miles south of British Columbia, Canada. Our 42,657 acres are within the Columbia River Basin Ecosystem and the Okanogan Highlands Province. The Refuge is on the western edge of the Sekirk Mountains; elevations range from 1,800 feet to 5,600 feet. Other public lands surround us- to the north the Washington Department of Natural Resources; to the east and south the U.S. Forest Service are the land stewards.The Refuge was established on May 2, 1939 to protect and provide a breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Most of the land was acquired through the Resettlement Administration which retired marginal farmland. Other land was purchased from willing sellers or acquired through exchange with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
How to Get There
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is 13 miles southeast of Colville, Washington in the northeast corner of the state.From Main Street (Highway 395) in Colville, follow Third Avenue (Highway 20) for 6 miles – you will be traveling east toward Tiger, WA. Just after passing White Mud Lake, make a right turn onto Artman-Gibson Road. The sign states the Refuge is 7 miles away. Travel 1.7 miles until reaching a 4-way intersection. Turn left onto Kitt-Narcisse Road and follow it for 2.2 miles where the road forks. Take the right fork onto Bear Creek Road (a dirt road), and follow it for 3.3 miles. The Refuge headquarters is a brown log building.Follow Highway 395 north. You can either drive all the way to Colville and follow the above directions, or exit the highway in Arden (about 6 miles south of Colville). From Arden, make a right turn off the highway at Hall Road (just past a lumber mill on the left). At the stop sign, turn left onto the Old Arden Highway and travel a short distance. At the third right, turn onto Artman-Gibson Road and follow it for approximately 4 miles until reaching a 4-way intersection. Turn right onto Kitt-Narcisse Road and follow it for 2.2 miles where the road forks. Take the right fork onto Bear Creek Road (a dirt road), and follow it for 3.3 miles. The Refuge headquarters is a brown log building.Follow Highway 20 to Tiger, WA and continue on Highway 20 to where it intersects with Artman-Gibson Road (about 30 miles). turn left onto Artman-Gibs
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Little Pend Oreille 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 Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1486) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge?
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is 13 miles southeast of Colville, Washington in the northeast corner of the state.From Main Street (Highway 395) in Colville, follow Third Avenue (Highway 20) for 6 miles – you will be traveling east toward Tiger, WA. Just after passing White Mud Lake, make a right turn onto Artman-Gibson Road. The sign states the Refuge is 7 miles away. Travel 1.7 mil…
How do I contact Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 509-684-8384 or email: lpo@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
