Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a remote refuge located in the high elevation of the Centennial Valley, in the southwestern region of the U.S. state of Montana. Adjacent to Gallatin National Forest and near Yellowstone National Park, the refuge is an integral part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Red Rock Lakes is best known for being the primary location for the efforts saving the trumpeter swan from extinction, which by 1932 had fewer than 200 known specimens in the United States and Canada. By the year 2002, an estimated 3,000 trumpeters were wintering on the refuge, many having migrated south from their summer range in Canada. The trumpeters are now so plentiful that efforts are being undertaken to help them reestablish historical migratory routes to areas further south in the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin region. The elegant trumpeter swan is North America's largest waterfowl, with a wingspans of 8 feet and they can weigh up to 30 pounds (13 kg).
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Designation | National Wildlife Refuge |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Montana |
| Size | 85,504 acres (computed from the boundary polygon) |
| FWS region | Region 6 |
| Center point | 44.6461, -111.8214 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 17) |
Boundary map
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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 9 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 1 moreHide
Most refuges do not allow overnight camping. The campgrounds listed are outside the refuge.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedLonesome Wood Rx Unit 31B
28 mi from the center point
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
- 7.5 miSherwood, Joseph, House and Store ↗Island Park, ID
- 11.1 miCrabtree, Glen and Addie, Cabin ↗Island Park, ID
- 12.5 miSpencer Rock House ↗Spencer, ID
- 12.7 miAlbaugh, Eleanor, Cabin ↗Island Park, ID
- 12.9 miHutchins Bridge ↗Cameron, MT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
85,504 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 Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
What state is Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in?
Montana.
Source: How states are assigned
Can I camp at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Elk Lake Dispersed Camping and Picnic Area, 0.5 miles out. 9 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 Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.646, -111.821. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Is there a fire near Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Lonesome Wood Rx Unit 31B at 28 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 17 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?
5 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Sherwood, Joseph, House and Store and Crabtree, Glen and Addie, Cabin.
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: Red Rock Lakes 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.