U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo National Wildlife Refuge System Logo Celebrating a Century of Conservation
Banner graphic displaying the Fish & Wildlife Service logo, the National Wildlife Refuge System logo and the Celebrating a Century of Conservation tagline
Red Rock Lakes
National Wildlife Refuge		 Two trumpeter swans face one another as they float in a wetland, their long graceful necks forming a natural heart shape.
27820 Southside Centennial Rd.
Lima, MT   59739
E-mail: Redrocks@fws.gov
Phone Number: 406-276-3536
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://redrocks.fws.gov		 Wetlands at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge provide secluded habitat for trumpeter swans, white-faced ibis, moose, and other wildlife species.
Blue horizontal line
  Overview
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lies in the high-elevation Centennial Valley and contains primarily wetland and riparian habitats. Red Rock Creek flows through the upper end of the valley, creating the impressive Upper Red Rock Lake, River Marsh, and Lower Red Rock Lake marshlands. The rugged Centennial Mountains border the Refuge to the south; they catch the winter snows that replenish the Refuge's lakes and marshes.

This minimally-altered natural and diverse habitat provides for species such as trumpeter swans, moose, sandhill cranes, curlews, peregrine falcons, eagles, numerous hawks and owls, badgers, wolverines, bears, pronghorn, and wolves (in the backcountry). Native fish such as Arctic grayling and west-slope cutthroat trout thrive in this environment.

Red Rock Lakes NWR is designated a National Natural Landmark, as well as one of the few marshland Wilderness Areas in the country. As such, the Refuge staff manages the land for its wilderness value, where humans are visitors with minimal permanent impact on the landscape, and the wildlife lives with minimal human interaction. Formal trails are not designated or maintained. In keeping with the wilderness spirit, visitors can see the country the way wildlife sees it and follow the numerous trails and tracks made by moose, elk, and deer.


Getting There . . .
From Interstate 15 at Monida, Montana, the Refuge headquarters is 28 miles east on an improved (partially graveled) dirt road. From West Yellowstone, follow U.S. 20 for about 12 miles west to the junction with Montana Highway 87. Travel northwest on Montana 87 for 5 miles, and turn south at the Sawtell historical marker. Follow the paved road around the west shore of Henry's Lake for approximately 5 miles onto Red Rock Pass Road (improved dirt road), following it west for about 25 miles to the Refuge entrance. Fill your tank for the 100-mile round trip to the Refuge.

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address:

Your full starting address AND town and state OR zip code


Google Maps opens in a new window

NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service domain. We do not control the content or policies of the site you are about to visit. You should always check site policies before providing personal information or reusing content.

These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

horizontal line

Wildlife and Habitat
The Refuge has a vast array of habitats, ranging from high elevation prairie (6,600 feet) to the harsh alpine habitat of the Centennial Mountains (10,000 feet).

Learn More>>


History
The Centennial Valley was well known to the Shoshone-Bannock, the Nez Perce, and other nomadic tribes as a favored travel route between the headwaters of Big Hole River and Yellowstone country.

Learn More>>

    Recreation and Education Opportunities
Environmental Education
Fishing
Hunting
Interpretation
Photography
Wildlife Observation
 Learn More >>

Dark blue horizontal line

Managment Activities

Refuge management seeks to enhance the natural area and wilderness values where appropriate, and maintain them where natural processes are functioning well. In this context, management first provides habitat for trumpeter swans and endangered species followed closely by an emphasis on moose, raptors, and several sensitive species. Water is managed to provide nesting habitat for swans and other waterfowl, with a secondary benefit for fisheries.

Historically grazed by bison, present grazing and prescribed burning programs help maintain quality food supplies for big game as well as a mix of shrubs and grasses for nesting birds. In recognition of the lushly vegetated mountain meadows, Refuge staff maintains dense vegetation that supports a naturally balanced predator/prey coexistence and removes the need for a predator control program. This results in viewing opportunities for fox, coyotes, badgers, and other predators, as well as prey species. The dense cover also maintains populations of rodents that provide prey for numerous hawks and owls. The riparian and riverine habitats on the Refuge are some of the most vegetated and diverse in the western United States.