National wildlife refuge

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Box Elder County, Utah run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hours: Auto tour route and trails sunrise to sunset, year-round, weather permitting, every day of the year.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge on the managing agency's own page.

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge map

Bear River Migratory Bird 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

No fire restriction recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders below before you go.

Utah Fire Info, Utah DNR's interagency fire information hub, keeps the Utah fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Utah fire map of active fires.

Common questions

Yes. Hours at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Auto tour route and trails sunrise to sunset, year-round, weather permitting, every day of the year.
Yes. The refuge has an auto tour route (12 miles).

Hours, fees, and visitor center

Hours at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Auto tour route and trails sunrise to sunset, year-round, weather permitting, every day of the year.

  • Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Visitor CenterTue-Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.2155 West Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302-4426435-723-5887

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

Source: fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge, checked 2026-09-29.

Auto tour route

  • Auto Tour Route12 mi12 miles west of I-15 exit 363; 36-mile round trip including the drive out

Source: fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Wildlife

  • BirdWaterfowl

Trails

  • Wetland Wonders(0.5 mi, easy)Outside the Visitor Center
  • Bulrush Bridge(0.75 mi, easy)Outside the Visitor Center
  • Marsh Meander(1.5 mi, easy)Outside the Visitor Center; about 1 mile accessible plus 0.70 miles gravel

Source: fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge, checked 2026-09-29.

Public lands next to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

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