USFWS · National wildlife refuge · Montana

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is a 2,800-acre (1,100 ha) National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) along the Bitterroot River in southwestern Montana, U.S. Established in 1964 as Ravalli NWR, it was renamed in 1978 in honor of the late Senator Lee Metcalf, a native of Montana. The refuge was set aside for the protection of migratory bird species. About 235 species of birds have been documented on the refuge, with over 100 nesting there. Additionally, 37 species of mammals, and 17 species of reptiles and amphibians also have been documented.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

National Wildlife Refuge2,827 acresUSFWSMT1 campground within 10 mi
Official page at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
4fires
active
Black Bear · 29 mi from the center · 2,126 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationNational Wildlife Refuge
Managed byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
StateMontana
Size2,827 acres (computed from the boundary polygon)
FWS regionRegion 6
Center point46.5608, -114.0809
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22)

Boundary map

3 outlines

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 1 is within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

FS · 1.9 mi
Larry Creek Group Camp
Reservable1 site

Most refuges do not allow overnight camping. The campgrounds listed are outside the refuge.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-09-17
  • Wildfire
    Black Bear

    29 mi from the center point · 2,126 acres · 30% contained

  • Wildfire
    Nature Grove

    29 mi from the center point · 1,422 acres · 0% contained

  • Wildfire
    North Fork Lost Horse

    30 mi from the center point · 118 acres · 70% contained

  • Wildfire
    Moose

    39 mi from the center point · 6,005 acres · 15% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 48 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge?

2,827 acres, measured from the published boundary polygon. The agency’s own figure can differ where the boundary includes water or inholdings.

Source: How acreage is computed

Who manages Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

What state is Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in?

Montana.

Source: How states are assigned

Can I camp at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Larry Creek Group Camp, 1.9 miles out. 1 in all are within ten miles. Most refuges do not allow camping inside the refuge, so the campgrounds listed are outside it.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge?

A point inside the boundary is at 46.561, -114.081. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Is there a fire near Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge right now?

4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Black Bear at 29 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

How dark is the night sky at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 22 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Are there historic places near Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge?

48 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Fort Owen and Cook, Wilbur, House.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundary layer.
  • States: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons; a state is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area.
  • Acreage: geodesic area of the published polygon. The agency’s official acreage can differ where the boundary includes water, easements or inholdings.
  • Description: Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The article was accepted because its title contains this unit’s name.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.