Site Directions: Refuge Headquarters are located approximately 15 miles southwest of Union City Tennessee. From Union City take highway 22 north approximately 15 miles, turn right on highway 157, refuge headquarters is located exactly 1 mile on left. The main part of the refuge can be accessed by taking a side road to the left that intersects Highway 157 about a mile past the refuge headquarters buildings.

To Long Point Unit: From Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, take TN Highway 157 north to the Kentucky line (road changes to KY Highway 311 at this point). Turn left about 3 miles past the state line onto KY Highway 1282 and go about 3 miles to access Long Point Road located on the south side of Highway 1282. Follow this road into the refuge.
Headquarters- Lat: 36.458224°N Long: -89.314642°W
Hours: daylight hours
Seasonality: year round
Fees: none

Site Description: The area contains a mix of bottomland hardwood, cypress swamp, marsh, cropland and open water habitats. A wildlife drive, hiking trails, and an observation platform (on Long Point Rd) provide easy access to sites where a wide variety of birds may be observed. The area contains a mix of farmland, bottomland hardwood forest, cypress swamp, and marshland habitats.

Wildlife to Watch: The Grassy Island Unit is noted as one of the best areas around Reelfoot Lake for viewing warblers in the spring and fall. Also, owls may frequently be seen and heard. Long Point Unit provides better access for viewing the abundance of waterfowl in winter. Several pairs of Bald Eagles nest around Reelfoot Lake and can be seen year round, which greater numbers in winter.

Birds of Reelfoot NWR from eBird submissions

Reelfoot Lake Map

Reelfoot Lake Boat Ramp maps - lake access

US Fish and Wildlife Service web page

Reelfoot NWR map


Submit your data to eBird and help us add to the list of birds seen at this site