Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge north of Columbia is in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains and plays a major role for migratory birds associated with the Central Flyway. Located in north-central South Dakota, these lands and waters are vitally important to the nation’s migratory bird populations. This 21,498-acre refuge includes Sand Lake, a 11,450-acre lake created by the last ice age. Each spring and fall, thousands of waterfowl and other waterbirds migrate through this region, taking advantage of the food found in the nutrient-laden wetlands. The Refuge is open during daylight hours, only. The headquarters and visitor center are open year-round, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed all federal holidays.