U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Upper Souris

 National Wildlife 

 Refuge

 Fishing
Upper Souris Welcome to Upper Souris National

National Wildlife Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The Refuge

Refuge was established in 1935 as a “refuge 

and breeding ground for migratory

A Place for birds and other wildlife.” Upper Souris

Wildlife and NWR is one of over 550 refuges in the

People National Wildlife Refuge System, a

network of lands set aside specifically 

for wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, the System is a 

living heritage, preserving wildlife 

and habitat for people today and for 

generations to come.

Located in the beautiful Souris 

River Valley of northwestern North 

Dakota, this 32,000-acre Refuge 

extends for over 35 miles along the 

Souris River. A major feature of the 

Refuge is Lake Darling, the largest of 

several Refuge water impoundments. 

The lake is designed to hold a 2-year 

supply of water to safeguard marshes 

downstream against the threat of 

drought. Some of the finest fishing in 

the area is found on Lake Darling and 

along the Souris River on the Refuge.

Lake Darling Dam, a water 

management tool, makes it 

possible to reduce flooding and 

regulate water releases for marsh 

management during periods of 

low flow. Management of water, in 

conjunction with extensive fisheries 

management, provides excellent 

fishing opportunities on the Refuge 

for people and wildlife. U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service biologists 

monitor the size and numbers of 

fish present and recommend fish 

stocking rates to support this active 

and popular fishing program.

Many fish can be found in the lake and 

the Souris River. Game fish species, 

such as northern pike, walleye, yellow 

perch, and smallmouth bass, are 

present. Non-game fish include white 

sucker and brown bullhead. Many 

species of minnows also inhabit Refuge 

waters.

This goose, 

designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, 

is the symbol of 

the National 

Wildlife Refuge 

System.

Northern pike

Walleye

Smallmouth bass

Game fish found within

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge

Yellow perch

USFWS
Greene Crossing ■ Bank-fishing is allowed from the

and Boat Ramp road right-of-way on both sides

on Lake Darling of Greene Crossing at Highway 28. 

■ Boat fishing is allowed on the lake 

south from Greene Crossing to 

Lake Darling Dam. The lake 

north of Greene Crossing is 

closed to boats. 

■A restroom and boat ramp are 

available.

Carter Dam ■ Bank fishing is allowed on

(Dam 41) both sides of the road near 

the water control structure 

(east end of the dam) and 

culvert (west of the dam).

■ No facilities are available. 

■ No boats or canoes are permitted.

Highway 5 on the ■ Bank fishing is permitted along

Souris River the highway right-of-way and 

within the river loop on the north 

side of the highway. 

■ No facilities are available. 

■ No boats or canoes are permitted.

Renville County ■All county ordinances and State 

Memorial (Mouse regulations apply within the Park. 

River) Park ■Restrooms, a boat ramp, tables, 

grills, and overnight camping are 

available in the Park.

Souris River from ■ Boat fishing and canoeing are

Park to North allowed from May 1 – September 30.

End of Refuge ■A boat ramp is located in the Park.

Swenson Bridge ■ Bank fishing is allowed from the

on the Souris road right-of-way.

River ■ No facilities are available.

Beaver Lodge ■ Fishing is permitted on the Beaver

Canoe Trail on Lodge Canoe Trail from May 1 – 

the Souris River September 30, which is located 

southeast of the parking lot.

■ Non-motorized boats and canoes 

are permitted.

Spillway Fishing ■ Bank fishing is allowed on the 

Area and Boat southeast corner of Lake Darling. 

Ramp on Lake Check signs to determine 

Darling boundaries.

■A restroom and boat ramp are 

available.

Lake Darling ■ The west end of the embankment

Dam is open to bank fishing on Lake 

Darling.

■ No facilities are available.

■ The remainder of the dam is 

closed to bank fishing.

Landings 1, 2, ■ The lake is open to boat fishing 

and 3 on Lake from Lake Darling Dam north to 

Darling Greene Crossing at Highway 28. 

■ Bank fishing is permitted on the 

west shore from the dam north 

approximately 11⁄4 miles to 

Landing 3. 

■Accessible restrooms, boat 

ramps, tables, and grills are 

available at Landings 1 and 3.

Grano Crossing ■ Bank fishing is allowed from the

and Boat Ramp road right-of-way on both sides of

on Lake Darling Grano Crossing road and within 

the boundaries of the Grano boat 

ramp. The bridge and a portion of 

the shoreline are accessible.

■ Boat fishing is allowed on the lake 

from Lake Darling Dam to 

Greene Crossing. 

■Restrooms, boat ramps, tables, 

and grills are available.

■ No boat fishing is permitted 

within 100 feet of Grano Bridge.

Spring, Summer, Bank fishing is permitted in 14 

and Fall Fishing designated areas described on the 

Season following pages. Fishing boats and 

canoes are permitted in designated 

fishing areas from May 1 – September 

30. Float tube fishing is allowed 

where boat fishing is permitted. 

Regulations Regulations set forth by the North 

Dakota Game and Fish Department 

and the Refuge must be observed in 

all public fishing areas. See the 

“Activities Not Permitted” section 

for additional Refuge regulations.

Hours The Refuge is open from 5:00 am to 

10:00 pm daily. No one is permitted 

on the Refuge between 10:00 pm and 

5:00 am.

Spring, Summer, Please see the map for the locations of 

and Fall Fishing the following areas. 

Areas

Baker Bridge on ■ Bank fishing is allowed on the north 

the Souris River side of County Road 8 from the 

bridge west to the point where the 

Souris River meets the Refuge 

boundary fence. The area south of 

the bridge is private property.

■A restroom is available.

■ No boats or canoes are permitted.

Silver Bridge on ■ Bank fishing is allowed from the

the Souris River road right-of-way on the east and

(Silver Bridge has west sides of the former bridge site.

been removed) ■A restroom is available on the west

side of the Silver Bridge fishing area.

■ No boats or canoes are permitted.

Outlet Fishing ■ Bank fishing begins at a point

Area on the 1/8-mile below Lake Darling Dam

Souris River and extends south 700 yards. 

■An accessible restroom, grills, 

tables, interpretive trail, and fishing 

dock are available.

■ No boats or canoes are permitted.
S o u r i s R i v e r

26

3

3

28

26

9

28

9

5

5

Greene

Grano

Swenson Bridge

Carter 

Dam (Dam 41)

Tolley

Renville County Memorial (Mouse River) Park,Mouse River Canoe Trail,and Centennial WildlifeNature Trail

Grano Boat Ramp

Grano Crossing

Spillway Fishing Area

To Lansford andU.S. Hwy. 83

Greene 

Crossing

Landings 1, 2, 3

NorthernPlains Railroad

To Mohall andU.S. Hwy. 83

To Mohall and State Hwy. 5

Greene Boat Ramp 

EckertRanch

To Kenmare

Oil Wells

L a k e

D a r l i n g

Highway 5 Fishing Area

Foxholm

Souris River

Des Lacs

NWR

J. Clark

Salyer

U NWR pper

Souris

NWR

Burlington

Minot

Berthold

SASKAT CHEWAN

Kenmare

Upham

Towner

Mohall Bowbells

Carpio

Lostwood

NWR

Westhope

52

14

5

8

8

28

28

2

2

52

83

256

MANITOBA

N. DAKOTA

Stanley

Bottineau

83

5

Souris River

Des LacsR vi er

Not to Scale

14

Up

per S

o

u

ris

Natio

nal Wil

dlife R

efug

e

3

28

Refuge boundaryFederal highwayState highwayCounty roadPaved roadGravel roadAuto tour routeRailroadOpen to boat fishing andcanoeing May 1 − September 30Refuge headquartersand visitor centerRestroomLinked symbols designateaccessible featuresWildlife observation areaTableBank fishing

52
Winter Fishing Ice fishing is permitted when ice 

Season covers the water. Always check ice 

thickness before venturing onto the 

ice.

Regulations Regulations set forth by the North 

Dakota Game and Fish Department 

and the Refuge must be observed in 

all public fishing areas. See the 

“Activities Not Permitted” section 

for further Refuge regulations.

Hours The Refuge is open from 5:00 am 

to 10:00 pm daily. No one is permitted 

on the Refuge between 10:00 pm and 

5:00 am.

Hazards Many unknown hazards can exist. Ice 

will be thinner around bridges, water 

control structures, beaver lodges, and 

vegetation. The ice will also be 

thinner near pressure ridges, at the 

Grano boat ramp opening into Lake 

Darling, near the springs north of the 

Greene Crossing, and wherever 

water is flowing under the ice.

Lake Darling ■Due to changing conditions consult 

Ice Fishing the Refuge Manager for current 

access points.

■ Street legal cars and pickups can be 

driven on the ice on Lake Darling 

for ice fishing purposes only. All 

other ice fishing areas are walk-in 

access only.

■ Ice fishing shelters are permitted 

on the ice. Ice fishing shelters must 

be removed on the date set by the 

State for ice fishing shelter removal. 

Following the date for removal of 

permanent shelters, portable ones 

may be used, but must be removed 

daily.

■ No open fires are permitted. 

Remainder of the ■Access to the ice by walking is

Refuge permitted only at designated sites.

■ Portable shelters are allowed, but 

must be removed daily.

Fish Consumption The North Dakota Department of 

Advisories Health has issued advisories for the 

consumption of fish from Lake 

Darling and other State lakes and 

rivers. For more information, please 

contact the Refuge Manager.

Activities Not To protect wildlife, habitat, and other 

Permitted visitors, the following activities are 

not permitted: 

■ Camping, swimming, sailing, 

water skiing, personal watercraft 

(jet skis, etc.), off-road vehicle 

travel, fireworks, trespassing in 

closed areas, unleashed pets, and 

drunk and disorderly conduct. 

■Remaining on the Refuge between 

10:00 pm and 5:00 am.

■ Littering. Please pack your trash 

home. Do not leave litter in grills or 

in toilets.

■ Pleasure boating on Lake Darling. 

■ Collecting vegetation.

■ Bow and underwater spear fishing.

■ No snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles 

(ATVs), off-highway vehicles 

(OHVs), utility terrain vehicles 

(UTVs), amphibious vehicles, 

personal watercraft (PWCs), or 

similar vehicles on the Refuge.

■ Open fires on the ground or on the 

ice.

■ Searching for or removing historic 

or prehistoric artifacts.

■Entering onto the ice at other than 

designated access points.

■ Leaving ice fishing shelters on the 

Refuge after the State-declared date 

for removal of shelters from the ice.

■ Operation of a boat in excess of idle 

speed in the Grano Boat Ramp Bay, 

and within 100 feet of bridges.
Refuge Boundary 

Sign

Open to Public 

Fishing

Sanctuary

Area

Administration The Refuge is administered and

and Location managed by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Department of the 

Interior. The Refuge headquarters 

and visitor center are located 

southeast of Lake Darling Dam 

and can be reached by traveling on 

Highway 52 to Foxholm, and north 

7 miles on County Road 11, or by 

traveling 18 miles north of Minot on 

Highway 83 and west 12 miles on 

County Road 6. Refuge headquarters 

and visitor center hours are 8:00 am 

to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, 

except for Federal holidays. The 

Refuge is closed to all entry from 

10:00 pm to 5:00 am.

Accessibility Equal opportunity to participate

Information in 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 711 for a free 

connection to the State 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 / 468 5467, or 

the U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C 

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

Refuge Signs and These signs allow or restrict certain

Their Meaning activities to provide maximum 

enjoyment for visitors while protecting 

Refuge wildlife from undue harm.

These signs mark 

areas open to 

public uses. 

Contact the 

Refuge manager 

for specific 

regulations.

These signs mark 

areas closed to all 

public access to 

protect wildlife 

and habitat.

These signs mark 

areas open to 

public fishing.
Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge

17705 212th Avenue NW

Foxholm, ND 58718

701 / 468 5467

701 / 468 5600 fax

uppersouris@fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/uppersouris

For State relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information 

1 800 / 344 WILD

May 2012