National wildlife refuge

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge is a 26,800-acre national wildlife refuge in Merced County, California, established in 1967, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex. There is no entrance fee. Hours: Most refuge lands closed except signed auto tour routes, nature trails, fishing areas, and parking lots, every day of the year.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for San Luis National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Hank chapot at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge map

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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Fire restrictions

Fire restrictions change with the season and can start or lift within days. Check the current orders for this area before any campfire, stove, smoking, target shooting or off-road driving.

Common questions

Yes. Hours at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge: Most refuge lands closed except signed auto tour routes, nature trails, fishing areas, and parking lots, every day of the year.
No. There is no entrance fee at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes. Hunting is allowed on San Luis National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl and upland game birds. Where, per the refuge: Follow refuge-specific regulations and state seasons; see refuge hunting page. Seasons, limits and methods are set by the refuge regulation and Nevada Department of Wildlife rules, which change every year: read them before you go.
Yes. Fishing is allowed on San Luis National Wildlife Refuge with a Nevada fishing license. Where, per the refuge: Allowed only in designated areas per refuge fishing page.
Yes. Dogs are allowed on San Luis National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.
Yes. The refuge has an auto tour route, Waterfowl Auto Tour Route (12 miles).

Hours, fees, and visitor center

Hours at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge: Most refuge lands closed except signed auto tour routes, nature trails, fishing areas, and parking lots, every day of the year.

There is no entrance fee at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.

  • San Luis NWR Complex Visitor Center and Headquartersdaily: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.7376 South Wolfsen Road, Los Banos, CA 93635209-826-3508

What visitors do here: an auto tour route, birding, environmental education, fishing, hiking, hunting, photography, wildlife viewing.

Sources: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29; fws.gov/refuge/san-luis, checked 2026-09-28.

Auto tour route

  • Waterfowl Auto Tour Route12 miTours wetlands and uplands on the San Luis Unit; map at visitor center

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Wildlife

  • BirdWaterfowlWhen: winterPeak concentrations during Pacific Flyway migration
  • BirdShorebirdsWhen: spring and fallMudflats and shallow wetlands during migration

Hunting

Hunting is allowed on San Luis National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl and upland game birds. Where, per the refuge: Follow refuge-specific regulations and state seasons; see refuge hunting page. Seasons, limits and methods are set by the refuge regulation and Nevada Department of Wildlife rules, which change every year: read them before you go.

Hunting rules for San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis, checked 2026-09-28.

Fishing and boating

Fishing is allowed on San Luis National Wildlife Refuge with a Nevada fishing license. Where, per the refuge: Allowed only in designated areas per refuge fishing page.

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Pets

Dogs are allowed on San Luis National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Trails

  • Chester Marsh Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Kesterson Unit Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Raccoon Marsh Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Sousa Marsh Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Upland Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Visitor Center Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Wetland Nature Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Winton Marsh Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands
  • Woody Pond Trail(easy)Nature trails lead through major habitat types including wetlands and uplands

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Places on the refuge

  • PlaceWaterfowl Auto Tour Route12-mile wetland and upland driving tour on the San Luis Unit

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Getting there

  • Nearest town: Los Banos
  • 45 miles from Fresno

Source: fws.gov/refuge/san-luis/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Public lands next to San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.