Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge park
Community Reviews
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Reviews, ratings & photos are added in the free Snoflo iOS app — rate a spot, tag the conditions, and your visit is verified by location. Add or manage your reviews from the app.
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
There are several good reasons to visit Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, including its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and peaceful atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. The refuge is also a great place for photography enthusiasts to capture stunning shots of wildlife and landscapes.
Some specific points of interest to see at the refuge include the Red Rock Creek, which is the main water source for the area, the Red Rock Canyon, which features impressive rock formations and cliffs, and the Centennial Valley, which is a large open grassland area that provides habitat for many species of birds and mammals.
Interesting facts about the refuge include that it was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the US. It was created to protect the trumpeter swan, which was on the brink of extinction at the time. Today, the refuge remains an important breeding area for this majestic bird.
The best time of year to visit Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is during the summer months when the weather is mild and wildlife is most active. However, spring and fall can also be great times to visit as the changing seasons bring new colors and wildlife activity. Winter can be harsh and challenging, but also offers unique opportunities for wilderness enthusiasts to experience the refuge in a more rugged and isolated setting.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Lake Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Upper Lake | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Elk Lake Dispersed Camping And Picnic Area | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Henrys Lake State Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Mccrea Bridge Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Buttermilk | ✓ | ✓ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
What can I do at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.