Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Nevada

Established in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Ruby Valley on the east side of the Ruby Mountains. This is 39,928 acres (17,000 acres of wetlands) that are about 16 miles long and about 3 miles wide. Once upon a time this was a 200' deep lake, but is now a network of shallow ponds and spring-fed marshes, habitat for hundreds of species of migratory and native birds and animals. Ruby Lake is one of the most remote National Wildlife Refuges in the 48 contiguous states, and is also one of the most important waterfowl nesting areas in the intermountain West and the Great Basin area. Driving routes vary from 65 to 90 miles in length, with 17 to 35 mile stretches of gravel road (some of which is not regularly maintained). If you want to come here, bring everything you need, including extra fuel: fuel and basic groceries are sometimes available in Ruby Valley, but not always. Some routes are not open in winter.

Ruby Lake NWR is a mix of wetlands (open water, marsh, bullrush stands), meadows, grasslands, alkali playa and upland shrub-steppe (sagebrush, greasewood) habitats. More than 200 springs flow from the base of the Ruby Mountains to provide the water that keeps this countryside wet (and green). You'll find the largest nesting population of canvasback ducks (outside of Alaska and west of the Mississippi River) here. As waterfowl habitat in the Great Basin is lost, Ruby Lake becomes more and more important, and the bird numbers go up every year.