About Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1953. The 195,000-acre Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge was created when President Bill Clinton signed Proclamation 7319 on June 9, 2000. The Monument/Refuge is the first of its kind under U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service management within the lower 48 states and managed as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Monument/Refuge is comprised of the Fitzner-Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve and the Saddle Mountain and Wahluke Units. These units encompass important riparian, aquatic, riverine and upland shrub-steppe habitats that are declining throughout the American west. Numerous wildlife species depend upon these intact ecosystems; 43 species of fish, including threatened and endangered salmon and trout; 40 mammals; 246 birds; 4 amphibians; 9 reptiles and over 1500 invertebrates.
How to Get There
To reach the Monument Headquarters, follow I-182 in central Washington toward Richland. Take the George Washington Way exit into Richland, and follow this for several miles through the city. Just after the Richland High School and Washington State University Tri-Cities campus on the left, visitors will go up a small hill. The next traffic light is Battelle Boulevard. Take the next right (5th Street) after Battelle Boulevard. At the next intersection, the Monument headquarters will be just across the street and to the left, 3250 Port of Benton Boulevard. Please note that most of this new monument is closed, or access is limited, and there are few visitor facilities pending completion of a management plan and its implementation. The Monument is within a half day drive of three major metropolitan areas (Seattle, Spokane, and Portland) and situated in the "backyard" of the Tri-Cities (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco), Washington, with a population of more than 150,000.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Saddle Mountain 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 Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/4045) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge?
To reach the Monument Headquarters, follow I-182 in central Washington toward Richland. Take the George Washington Way exit into Richland, and follow this for several miles through the city. Just after the Richland High School and Washington State University Tri-Cities campus on the left, visitors will go up a small hill. The next traffic light is Battelle Boulevard. Take the next right (5th Stree…
How do I contact Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 509-371-1801 or email: hanfordreach@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
