Welcome to Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Ilo (NWR) is managed by the U.S. Fish

National and Wildlife Service. The Refuge is

Wildlife Refuge one of more than 540 refuges in the

National Wildlife Refuge System – a

network of lands set aside to conserve

wildlife and habitat for people today

and for generations to come.

Refuge Lake Ilo NWR is located 1 mile west

Information of Dunn Center, North Dakota; along

Highway 200. The Refuge is open to

visitors from sunrise to sunset daily.

Please consult the Refuge map for

areas open to public use.

Visitor Located on the north shore of Lake

Opportunities Ilo, the Lake Ilo Park provides

Lake Ilo Park visitors with daytime facilities

including tables, charcoal grills,

litter receptacles, and a rest room.

A 1-mile interpreted nature trail

begins in the park and winds along

the north shoreline of Lake Ilo.

Opportunities exist to view many

species of wildlife including birds,

bats, deer, raccoons, turtles, and

many more. The trail has several

interpretive signs and rest benches

for the visitor’s enjoyment.

An information kiosk contains

Refuge brochures, wildlife lists,

archeological information, and

visitor’s guides.

Interpretation An archeological display containing

a reconstructed stone tipi ring and

interpretive panels are located near

the nature trailhead.

The Lake Ilo dam is a prominent

and important feature of the

Refuge. An overlook parking area is

located on a hill at the north end of

the structure. An informative

display on the dam’s history, along

with a dedication stone, are located

near the spillway.

Wildlife Spring and fall migration are peak

Observation times to observe and photograph

many species and concentrations of

birds. Early mornings and evenings

are best for viewing wildlife. The

wildlife list provides information on

species found on the Refuge.

Fishing Portions of Lake Ilo are open to

fishing and boating in accordance

with State and Refuge regulations.

Consult this visitor’s guide and the

North Dakota State Fishing Guide

for regulations. Northern pike, perch,

and bluegill are popular game fish in

Lake Ilo.

Fishing and wildlife-oriented

boating is allowed May 1 through

September 30. Areas open to fishing

and boating are designated by signs,

marker buoys, and the Refuge map.

Boat motors are restricted to idle

speed only.

An accessible fishing pier is located

in Lake Ilo Park. A boat ramp and

courtesy dock are available on the

north shore.

Fishing from the shoreline is open

year-round in areas open to public

fishing on Lake Ilo.

Ice fishing is open October 1

through March 31.

The Lake Ilo dam spillway,

emergency spillway, and islands are

closed to all public use.

Environmental Spring and summer offer wonderful

Education wildlife education opportunities for

school students and other interested

groups visiting the Refuge. Please

contact the Refuge Manager at

Audubon NWR, Coleharbor, North

Dakota, at 701 / 442 5474, in advance

to schedule a program.

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge - Audubon Complex

3275 11th Street NW

Coleharbor, ND 58531

701 / 442 5474

701 / 442 5546 fax

audubon@fws.gov

http://lakeilo.fws.gov

For State transfer relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

September 2004

Visitor’s Guide

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Wildlife

Refuge

Lake Ilo
Lake Ilo Pa

rk 

and North Shore 

Cemetery Nature Trail

200 

200 

Archeological Display 

Lake Ilo Dam 

N 

0 1 2 Miles 

0 1 2 Kilometers 

Refuge Boundary 

State Highway 

Gravel Road 

North Shore Nature Trail 

Closed to Boats, Fishing,

and Public Use 

Closed to All Public Use 

Open to Public Use 

Private Land Inside Refuge Boundary 

Lake Ilo 

National Wildlife Refuge 

Refuge Headquarters 

Rest Rooms 

Boat Ramp 

Fishing Pier 

Wildlife Observation Point 

This goose, designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, has become 

the symbol of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System. 

200 

Lake Ilo 

Lee Paul

Slough 

Spring Creek 

Murphy

Creek 

1806 

85 

94 

22 

8 

22 

200 

Manning 

Marshall 

Halliday 

Richardton Taylor 

Grassy

Butte 

Fairfield 

Belfield 

Dunn Center 

Lake Ilo 

NWR 

New 

Hradec 

Killdeer 

Little Missouri 

State Park 

Twin 

Buttes 

Dodge 

Dickinson 

not to scale 

N 

Protecting the	 For the protection of wildlife, habitat, 

Refuge	 and other visitors, please make Lake 

Ilo NWR a better place by observing 

the following regulations: ■ Vehicles must stay on roads. 

Visitors may park on road sides if 

not blocking gates or road travel. 

■ All plants, animals, and artifacts 

are protected and may not be 

disturbed. 

■ Camping and fires are not allowed 

except for fires in grills in the 

Lake Ilo Park. 

■ Pets must be leashed at all times. ■ Water sports such as waterskiing, 

jet skiing, racing, sail boating, 

scuba diving, and swimming are 

not allowed. 

■ No hunting is allowed. ■ Fireworks, firearms, and other 

weapons are not allowed on the 

Refuge. 

■ All litter must be packed out or 

disposed of in receptacles in the 

Lake Ilo Park. 

Accessibility	 Equal opportunity to participate in 

Information	 and benefit from programs and 

activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service is available to all individuals 

regardless of physical or mental 

ability. Dial 7-1-1 for a free connection 

to the State transfer relay service for 

TTY and voice calls to and from the 

speech and hearing impaired. For 

more information or to address 

accessibility needs, please contact the 

Refuge staff at 701 / 442 5474, or the 

U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C 

Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.