Fallon NWR was established in 1931 as a refuge and breeding ground for birds and wild animals. It is located in the Lahontan Valley of western Nevada at the terminus of the Carson River.

The refuge comprises over 15,000 acres of playa and wetland habitat in the Carson Sink. In years of high water-flows down the Carson River, the refuge is important for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl. However, due to diversions, in most years there is insufficient water-flow down the Carson River to enter the refuge.

Public Uses

The management goals and objectives for each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System vary. For a variety of reasons, such as the presence of sensitive species and habitats, land ownership, and hazardous conditions, not all units of the Refuge System provide visitor opportunities. This area is Open to public use.

Accessibility: The National Wildlife Refuge System is working to ensure that facilities and programs are accessible to visitors. Please contact the office of the site you wish to visit for information about accessibility.

Visitor Opportunities: There are no facilities located on Fallon NWR. Roads are primitive and passable only during those periods of dry weather. The refuge it's self is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The area is dominated by a large playa (sink) and a dune complex and would give a visitor a feeling of isolation.

Management Programs

In the recent past, little active management has occurred on the refuge. This is primarily due to drought conditions and facilities lacking in their ability to capture those flows that do make it down the river to its boundary. Currently there are efforts in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited to repair and upgrade existing facilities to better use those waters coming down the river.

Directions

To visit Fallon NWR, it is best to stop at the Stillwater NWR headquarters located at 1000 Auction Rd. in Fallon, Nevada, to obtain a map and directions. Roads in the Fallon NWR area are not marked and could become confusing.