National wildlife refuge

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,000-acre national wildlife refuge in Kossuth County, Iowa, established in 1937, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There is no entrance fee.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Mike Budd/USFWS, Public domain

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge map

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

View larger map Open in Google Maps Directions

Fire restrictions

This unit's own agency alerts list no fire restriction as of Oct. 5, 2026. We do not check a statewide fire-order feed for IA, so that is not a statement that no order exists, and not a green light for a fire. Check with the land manager and your county before you light anything.

Common questions

No. There is no entrance fee at Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes. Hunting is allowed on Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl, upland game birds, and big game. 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.
No. Dogs are not allowed on Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Pets not allowed on the refuge as stated by the refuge.

Hours, fees, and visitor center

There is no entrance fee at Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

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

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Wildlife

  • BirdWaterfowl
  • BirdMigratory birds
  • InvertebrateThreatened and endangered species

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Hunting

Hunting is allowed on Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl, upland game birds, and big game. 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.

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Pets

Dogs are not allowed on Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Pets not allowed on the refuge as stated by the refuge.

Source: fws.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Getting there

  • Nearest town: St. Benedict, 2.3 miles

Source: www2.census.gov, checked 2026-09-30.

Public lands next to Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

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