Chase Lake Wilderness
The Chase Lake Wilderness comprises 95% of the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to one of North America's largest nesting colonies of American white pelicans. Nearly one-third of the continental population of these birds nest at this Refuge, with the nesting colony fluctuating year to year anywhere from 4,000 to 35,000 birds. This is especially impressive given that only 50 birds inhabited the region when it was first protected in 1908. It is a significant location for other waterbird colonies in the northern plains, including cattle egrets, snowy egrets, great egrets, double-crested cormorants, black-crowned night herons, little blue herons, white-faced ibis, glossy ibis, California gulls, and ring-billed gulls.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | North Dakota |
| Size | 4,155 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 47.01° N, 99.44° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 7.1 miCrystal Springs Fountain ↗Crystal Springs, ND
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for hiking across the country
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Chase Lake Wilderness?
4,155 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chase Lake Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chase Lake Wilderness in?
North Dakota.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chase Lake Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Chase Lake Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 47.008° N, 99.444° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Chase Lake Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Crystal Springs Fountain.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- 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.