Living in a big city doesn鈥檛听mean you don鈥檛 have听access to the wild outdoors. The , an initiative within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages 567 national wildlife refuges, including听101 听located within 25 miles of cities housing populations over 250,000鈥攕erving the 80 percent of Americans who live in and around metro areas.听We鈥檙e talking about massive plots of lands, immense networks of trails, and thriving biospheres听of animals and plants in 36 states, all within an hour of places听like Detroit or Birmingham, Alabama.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
John Heinz
11 miles from the Liberty Bell
,听located within Philadelphia鈥檚 city limits, was our country鈥檚 first urban refuge, established in 1972. Known for听its focus on education, it enlists community members to听convert unused lots into urban-pollinator gardens and hosts听local听students听for in-the-field environmental courses and summer internships. There鈥檚 incredible wildlife spotting along the 285-acre freshwater tidal marsh,听including bald eagles, beavers, and deer. (You can borrow binoculars from the visitor听center for free.)听Or opt to听paddle a canoe down the 4.5-mile tidal segment of Darby Creek听or hike 10 miles of trails that traverse the site.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Valle de Oro听
7 miles from the Albuquerque airport
Wildlife and habitat restoration are听priorities at听, set along the eastern banks of the Rio Grande just a few miles from downtown Albuquerque. Park staff are听currently teaching听the听ABQ Backyard Refuge Program, where people听learn how to rebuild habitats and garden to reintroduce听wildlife in their own backyards. The 570-acre swath听was created in 2012 on a former dairy farm, making it one of the country鈥檚 newest听urban wildlife sanctuaries and the first in the Southwest. Come for a visit and you鈥檒l score views of migratory birds, like snow geese and sandhill cranes, with听the Sandia Mountains听as a backdrop. There are also听guided walking tours on newly built trails听and stargazing sessions.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bayou Sauvage听
46 miles from the French Quarter
If you want to spot American alligators close to New Orleans, head to the marshes of听鈥擩oe Madere Marsh is one of the best places for viewing this endemic species. You can learn about the importance of marshes and wetlands in protecting New Orleans from storm surges, fish for largemouth bass or catfish in its听freshwater lagoons and bayous,听or launch a canoe and听paddle the canals and small lakes that dot the property. Short boardwalk trails are also popular with hikers听and nature photographers. More recently, students from the University of New Orleans have been learning to plant trees and marsh grasses to help rebuild wetlands here.
San Diego, California
San Diego Bay听
13 miles from the San Diego Zoo
stretches over 12,300 acres, offering easy access to wilderness for the millions of residents in this听metropolitan area. The park has听trails for hiking and mountain biking, restored grasslands and oak woodlands that were once damaged by wildfire, and endangered butterflies and waterfowl that stop听over during their winter migrations. The 听facilitates听educational programs here, and the听San Diego听nonprofit organization , which connects local kids to outdoor activities, leads excursions听at the refuge like fishing, biking, and kayaking.
Portland, Oregon听
Tualatin River
15 miles from Powell鈥檚 City of Books
Just outside Portland, within the floodplain of the Tualatin River, you鈥檒l find a peaceful sanctuary in an otherwise busy urban area. The , southwest of听downtown, is a stopover for migrating waterfowl and songbirds on the Pacific Flyway and home to a number of mammals, including coyote, deer, and bobcat. Several miles of trails are open to hikers. In the fall,听admire the听changing foliage and migrating geese and swans. The park hosts well-loved events, like the annual Tualatin Bird Festival in the spring or youth-oriented programs听through , an organization that encourages wilderness education and community involvement for local schoolchildren.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota Valley听
Less than 2 miles from the Mall of America
Smack in the middle of the Twin Cities, covers 14,000 lofty acres and 70 miles along the Minnesota River.听Paddle the waterway听in a canoe, or hike or run听46 miles of winding trails. The refuge hands out free loaner binoculars, fishing gear, and snowshoes at its听visitor听center,听and local kids can听borrow snow clothes and boots when they show up midwinter.听An on-site art gallery showcases nature-inspired work from hometown听and rotating artists.
Denver, Colorado
Rocky Mountain Arsenal听
14 miles from Mile High Stadium
Spot bison, deer, bald eagles, prairie dogs, songbirds, and endangered black-footed ferrets at the 15,000-acre, located between Denver International Airport and听downtown鈥檚听skyscrapers, with views of the Rocky Mountains. Hike the ten听miles of trails or motor along Wildlife Drive, an 11-mile loop where you can see bison and deer. Fishing is big here: there鈥檚 bass in听Lake Mary or Lake Ladora, as well as and an for those with disabilities.