50 Largest National Wildlife Refuges In The US

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Mountain Journey
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National Wildlife Refuge System Logo | By Jay Norwood Darling [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
National Wildlife Refuge System Logo | By Jay Norwood Darling [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The US Fish and Wildlife is the federal agency in charge of the National Wildlife Refuges in the United States and its territories. This post highlights the largest National Wildlife Refuges in the US.

According to FWS.gov, the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to “administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” With this goal in mind, the NWRs are excellent places to experience nature as it was meant to be experienced.

In this post, we shine the spotlight on the 50 largest National Wildlife Refuges managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. From the Pacific to Alaska to the Caribbean, these are the largest National Wildlife Refuges. All of these NWRs have more than 100,000 total acres – some of the acreage is above ground and some is submerged.

The data listed below is taken from the 2017 USFW Annual Report Of Lands Data. A map of the National Wildlife Refuges can be found here. Enjoy.

Here are the 50 largest National Wildlife Refuges in the United States:

Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska | Pixabay Image
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska | Pixabay Image

1. Mariana Trench

  • Total Acres: 50,532,102.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

2. Arctic

  • Total Acres: 19,287,135.75
  • State: Alaska

3. Yukon Delta

  • Total Acres: 19,226,606.25
  • State: Alaska

4. Yukon Flats

  • Total Acres: 8,636,951.06
  • State: Alaska

5. Togiak

  • Total Acres: 4,104,246.80
  • State: Alaska

6. Innoko

  • Total Acres: 3,850,800.92
  • State: Alaska

7. Alaska Peninsula

  • Total Acres: 3,574,259.73
  • State: Alaska

8. Koyukuk

  • Total Acres: 3,550,159.96
  • State: Alaska

9. Alaska Maritime

  • Total Acres: 3,421,644.99
  • State: Alaska

10. Selawik

  • Total Acres: 2,150,561.94
  • State: Alaska

11. Kenai

  • Total Acres: 1,912,470.47
  • State: Alaska

12. Kodiak

  • Total Acres: 1,880,891.52
  • State: Alaska

13. Desert

  • Total Acres: 1,615,313.49
  • State: Nevada

14. Nowitna

  • Total Acres: 1,560,239.99
  • State: Alaska

15. Kanuti

  • Total Acres: 1,430,319.90
  • State: Alaska

16. Becharof

  • Total Acres: 1,200,419.52
  • State: Alaska

17. Charles M. Russell

  • Total Acres: 934,395.17
  • State: Montana

18. Cabeza Prieta

  • Total Acres: 860,041.32
  • State: Arizona

19. Tetlin

  • Total Acres: 700,286.95
  • State: Alaska

20. Kofa

  • Total Acres: 666,640.94
  • State: Arizona

21. Midway Atoll

  • Total Acres: 580,740.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

22. Sheldon

  • Total Acres: 573,613.63 (572,986.15 (NV) + 627.48 (OR))
  • State: Nevada, Oregon

23. Johnston Atoll

  • Total Acres: 567,289.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

24. Palmyra Atoll

  • Total Acres: 533,110.11
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

25. Wake Atoll

  • Total Acres: 497,750.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

26. Kingman Reef

  • Total Acres: 487,016.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

27. Jarvis Island

  • Total Acres: 434,697.17
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

28. Howland Island

  • Total Acres: 422,361.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

29. Baker Island

  • Total Acres: 413,415.89
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific

30. Okefenokee

  • Total Acres: 406,936.18 (403,241.26 (FL) + 3,694.92 (GA))
  • State: Georgia, Florida

31. Navassa Island

  • Total Acres: 364,950.00
  • State: US Minor Outlying Islands – Atlantic

32. Izembek

  • Total Acres: 310,995.12
  • State: Alaska

33. Hart Mountain

  • Total Acres: 271,246.93
  • State: Oregon

34. Hawaiian Islands

  • Total Acres: 254,418.10
  • State: Hawaii

35. Sevilleta

  • Total Acres: 229,673.57
  • State: New Mexico

36. Upper Mississippi River

  • Total Acres: 209,733.75 (33,291.17 (IL) + 51,281.17 (IA) + 34,863.60 (MN) + 90,297.81 (WI))
  • State: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

37. Key West

  • Total Acres: 208,308.17
  • State: Florida

38. Malheur

  • Total Acres: 187,166.84
  • State: Oregon

39. Sangre de Cristo

  • Total Acres: 167,200.00
  • State: Colorado

40. Saddle Mountain

  • Total Acres: 161,485.93
  • State: Washington

41. Dale Bumpers White River

  • Total Acres: 160,214.80
  • State: Arkansas

42. Alligator River

  • Total Acres: 158,686.37
  • State: North Carolina

43. Arthur R. Marshall

  • Total Acres: 143,953.77
  • State: Florida

44. Merritt Island

  • Total Acres: 139,196.47
  • State: Florida

45. Sabine

  • Total Acres: 125,790.08
  • State: Louisiana

46. Great White Heron

  • Total Acres: 117,722.53
  • State: Florida

47. Buenos Aires

  • Total Acres: 117,255.73
  • State: Arizona

48. Aransas

  • Total Acres: 115,324.41
  • State: Texas

49. Great Dismal Swamp

  • Total Acres: 112,928.04 (27,602.40 (NC) + 85,325.64 (VA))
  • State: North Carolina, Virginia

50. Pocosin Lakes

  • Total Acres: 110,106.64
  • State: North Carolina

***Total Acres are based on the US Fish & Wildlife Service 2017 Annual Report On Lands Data Table.

Below is a list of total acres of National Wildlife Refuges in each US State & Territory:

  • Alabama – 71,573.13 acres
  • Alaska – 76,797,990.87 acres
  • American Samoa – 1,613.00 acres
  • Arizona – 1,736,885.77 acres
  • Arkansas – 381,658.21 acres
  • California – 501,661.15 acres
  • Colorado – 340,513.78 acres
  • Connecticut – 1697.49 acres
  • Delaware – 26,496.18 acres
  • Florida – 990,238.13 acres
  • Georgia – 496,736.91 acres
  • Guam – 23,228.10 acres
  • Hawaii – 304,733.60 acres
  • Idaho – 85,280.92 acres
  • Illinois – 131,085.65 acres
  • Indiana – 69,011.09 acres
  • Iowa – 88,370.88 acres
  • Kansas – 67,795.67 acres
  • Kentucky – 11,837.75 acres
  • Louisiana – 599,113.75 acres
  • Maine – 72,948.17 acres
  • Maryland – 49,786.16 acres
  • Massachusetts – 23,387.72 acres
  • Michigan – 126,050.38 acres
  • Minnesota – 246,975.61 acres
  • Mississippi – 228,848.68 acres
  • Missouri – 72,953.66 acres
  • Montana – 1,334,910,28 acres
  • Nebraska – 155,392.72 acres
  • Nevada – 2,363,021.19 acres
  • New Hampshire – 36,156.19 acres
  • New Jersey – 76,408.89 acres
  • New Mexico – 389,224.05 acres
  • New York – 31,211.75 acres
  • North Carolina – 435,422.08 acres
  • North Dakota – 416,214.59 acres
  • Ohio – 9,408.27 acres
  • Oklahoma – 173,465.51 acres
  • Oregon – 583,313.61 acres
  • Pennsylvania – 12,027.96 acres
  • Puerto Rico – 22,584.46 acres
  • Rhode Island – 2,570.74 acres
  • South Carolina – 192,438.74 acres
  • South Dakota – 125,042.27 acres
  • Tennessee – 123,210.66 acres
  • Texas – 641,682.73
  • Utah – 105,846.59 acres
  • US Minor Outlying Islands – Atlantic – 364,950.00 acres
  • US Minor Outlying Islands – Pacific – 54,515,260.67 acres
  • Vermont – 34,187.27 acres
  • Virgin Islands – 590.15 acres
  • Virginia – 135,141.67 acres
  • Washington – 328,517.90 acres
  • West Virginia – 19,286.35 acres
  • Wisconsin – 169,689.17 acre
  • Wyoming – 86,431.21 acres

Will your next adventure take you to one of the largest National Wildlife Refuges? These incredible places make for excellent off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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