Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

09/15/2026

09/04/2026

Join us on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Owens Station for a special Freedom 250 Celebration honoring our nation’s 250th anniversary!
Come celebrate with family, friends, and your community while enjoying everything the refuge has to offer. The day will feature free fishing, archery, free food, family-friendly activities including a hay ride and pumpkin painting, historic demonstrations, and more!
🎣 Free fishing
🏹 Archery
🚜 Antique tractors and a hay ride
🇺🇸 Revolutionary-era history
🥪 Free food
🌿 Family-friendly activities including pumpkin painting and apple c***r
🛶 Kayak Tours: 10:30 and 12:00 - first come, first serve (limit 20 people; kayaks, paddles and life vests provided)
Bring the family, bring a friend, and come celebrate 250 years of American history, community, and conservation with us!
📍 Owens Station – Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
We hope to see you there! 🇺🇸🦅 See less

09/01/2026

Thanks to our partners Ducks Unlimited Wallkill River Chapter - Northern NJ and New Jersey Fish & Wildlife for hosting a waterfowl workshop over the weekend! It was an informative and hands-on day for everyone involved! Participants learned valuable techniques for duck calling, explored essential hunting gear, and gained tips on setting up blinds as they prepare for the upcoming waterfowl hunting season. 🦆
(Photo credit: Jane Day, Refuge Volunteer)

08/20/2026

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge! 🇺🇸

Join us on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Owens Station for a special Freedom 250 Celebration honoring our nation’s 250th anniversary!

Come celebrate with family, friends, and your community while enjoying everything the refuge has to offer. The day will feature free fishing, archery, food, family-friendly activities, historic demonstrations, and more! We’ll also celebrate the agricultural heritage of the area, with antique tractors and a special appearance by George Washington himself! 🇺🇸

There will be plenty of opportunities to connect with refuge staff, volunteers, partners, and local organizations while enjoying the beautiful landscape of the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge.

🎣 Free fishing
🏹 Archery
🚜 Antique tractors
🇺🇸 Revolutionary-era history
🥪 Free food
🌿 Family-friendly activities
🛶 Kayak Tours: 10:30 and 12:00 - first come, first serve (limit 20 people; kayaks, paddles and life vests provided)

Bring the family, bring a friend, and come celebrate 250 years of American history, community, and conservation with us!

📍 Owens Station – Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

We hope to see you there! 🇺🇸🦅

08/07/2026

Our staff and volunteers had a wonderful day with the youth from Groundwork Elizabeth and Groundwork Hudson Valley. These young conservation professionals spent the morning donating their time assisting us with trail maintenance and invasive flora removal, followed by a fun afternoon of kayaking and fishing. And thank you to the Friends of Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuges for live bird presentation!

07/27/2026

Bat Night 🦇
August 1st, 2026 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm (Rain Date: August 8th)
136 Owens Station Road, Sussex, NJ
(At the west end of Vernon, between Lake Wallkill Road and Route 284). Join us for a free presentation on Bats.

Learn about the different species in our area, including migratory bats. This event begins with a presentation indoors, then moves outdoors to listen for bats using an echolocation device. Guests are encouraged to bring headlamps and flashlights and may want to use insect spray if mosquitoes are out.

07/24/2026

Nature is putting on a show at Owens Station this week! 💜🐦🦋

The young Purple Martins are stretching their wings and taking their very first flights, while American Goldfinches, Monarch butterflies, and busy bees fill the wildflower meadow surrounding the martin houses. It's a beautiful sight to enjoy before you even head out on one of our scenic nature trails!

Planning to spend some time on the water? Owens Station also features an accessible fishing dock for public use, with a kayak launch—making it easy to enjoy the water.

Whether you're birdwatching, fishing, paddling, or simply looking for a peaceful walk in nature, we hope you'll stop by and explore Owens Station this week!
(Photo Credits: Jane Day, Refuge Volunteer)

06/29/2026

Whether you're looking for a peaceful morning hike or a chance to connect with nature, Owens Station has something for everyone! 🌿🐦

Take a stroll along the trails, enjoy the beauty of blooming wildflowers, watch birds and other wildlife, and keep an eye out for unexpected visitors—like the turtle spotted on the trail this morning! 🐢

Be sure to stop by the Purple Martin colony, where eggs have been laid this season and many chicks have already hatched. It's an exciting time to witness these remarkable birds raising the next generation.

Every visit offers something new to discover. We hope you'll stop by Owens Station and experience it for yourself!

📸 We'd love to hear what you've spotted on your visit!
(Photo credit: Jane Day)

06/12/2026

Our maintenance professionals have been hard at work this summer improving an existing parking area off Glenwood Road (565) to provide visitors with direct access to the Wallkill River!

Whether you're looking to launch a kayak, cast a line, or simply enjoy the beauty of the river, this improved access point offers another way to experience the refuge. We appreciate the dedication of our maintenance team for helping make outdoor recreation and wildlife-dependent activities more accessible for everyone.

Stay tuned for more improvements and opportunities to explore Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge!

06/08/2026