Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

09/02/2026

Adventure awaits!
Sat, 9/19: 10 am-4 pm: Scavenger Hunt
Sun, 9/20: 10 am-1:30 pm: Scavenger Hunt | 2-3 pm: Celebration Event & Raffle Drawing

Join us for a fun, free community event, brought to you by the Great Swamp Partners! Play solo or team up with friends and family. The Treasures of the Swamp Scavenger Hunt launches September 19, and the Great Swamp is your playground! Unleash your inner explorer for an afternoon or weekend (it’s up to you) of riddle-solving and treasure-seeking across 7 beautiful natural spaces. Your clue booklet holds the secrets and each site unlocks the answers.

Adventure awaits! Sat, 9/19: 10 am-4 pm: Scavenger Hunt Sun, 9/20: 10 am-1:30 pm: Scavenger Hunt | 2-3 pm: Celebration Event & Raffle Drawing Join us for a fun, free community event, brought to you by the Great Swamp Partners! Play solo or team up with friends and family. The Treasures of the Swamp....

08/26/2026

The Wildlife Observation Center will remain temporarily closed to visitor access through Friday August 28th as the habitat restoration contractors from this past winter complete their work improving the habitat for a variety of wetland species, including waterfowl. Thank you for your patience and understanding and please use this time to visit the other wonderful trails on the refuge

08/19/2026

A reminder that the Wildlife Observation Center will be closed to visitor access from Monday August 24th - Wednesday August 26th as the habitat restoration contractors from this past winter complete their work improving the habitat for a variety of wetland species, including waterfowl. Thank you for your patience and understanding and please use this time to visit the other wonderful trails on the refuge!

08/06/2026

Our staff and volunteers had a wonderful time working on trail maintenance and invasive flora removal with the youth from Groundwork Elizabeth and Groundwork Hudson Valley today. The nearly 60 youth hand-pulled non-native mugwort, as well as helped to clear some of the storm-damaged trees and branches away from the WOC trails. They enjoyed the afternoon with archery lessons and a presentation on wildlife trafficking from the wildlife inspectors based out of the nearby port of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Thank you to the Friends of Great Swamp NWR for a delicious lunch!

08/06/2026

The Wildlife Observation Center will be closed to visitor access from Monday August 24th - Wednesday August 26th as the habitat restoration contractors from this past winter complete their work improving the habitat for a variety of wetland species, including waterfowl. Thank you for your patience and understanding and please use this time to visit the other wonderful trails on the refuge!

07/31/2026

A pair of black bears have been reported at the Wildlife Observation Center (WOC), so please be "Bear Aware" while you are walking the trails there over the next few days.

NJDEP| Fish & Wildlife | Bear Encounters | Page Description

07/17/2026

The Blue Trail is currently inaccessible from the Woodland Road parking area due to damage to the footbridge from the recent storms. Access to the Blue Trail is still available from the Long Hill Road parking area.

07/10/2026

The downed power lines and trees have been repaired by the utility company and Pleasant Plains Road has now fully reopened. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

07/08/2026

The Visitor Center and Wildlife Observation Center will both reopen tomorrow, with trails open at both locations. Please be aware that Pleasant Plains Road from immediately south of the Visitor Center down to the old headquarters building will remain closed until downed power lines can be removed by the utility company. This means all access to the Visitor Center will have to come from Lees Hill Road. Thank you for your patience and understanding

07/06/2026

Pleasant Plains Road and the Visitor Center will be closed on Tuesday and possibly longer, until downed power lines along the road can be safely removed by utility crews. Thank you for your patience and understanding.