San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge

San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area featuring wetlands along the Mexican border where water winds through flat terrain. The area provides habitat for hundreds of bird species and various fish that live in and around these water systems.

The refuge was established in the 1980s to protect a threatened wetland area that was once the largest of its kind in the region. Since then it has served to preserve this unique landscape and the wildlife that depends on it.

The refuge demonstrates how wetland habitats support the birds and fish that pass through or settle here. Visitors can observe how animals interact with the natural water and vegetation, and understand why this place matters for their survival.

The refuge is located in a dry region and is best visited during cooler months when wildlife is more active and weather is more comfortable. Start early and bring plenty of water since there is little shade on the trails and no facilities available.

The refuge sits on an important migration route for animals moving between Mexican mountain ranges and the mountain regions of the American Southwest. This passage makes the location a bridge between two distinct mountain areas.