Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Merced National Wildlife Refuge
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
81 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
19
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Carole R
Monterey, CA13 contributions
Mar 2020
A 5-mile auto tour takes you around a wetland hosting a variety of ducks, geese and Sandhill Cranes who spend the winter months here. There are some hiking trails, but mostly you view the birds from your car as you drive and stop along the road. Early March still had lots of variety, but they will be migrating soon. Picnic tables under a roof and restrooms are at the beginning of the trail. This is a bird lovers paradise but I encourage anyone to take the free auto tour and experience this incredible gathering of birds.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather
Yorkshire, UK130 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
I LOVED this place a lot and enjoyed driving around and watching the birds and wildlife.
The only negative is that the road was in a really bad state and there were potholes so big that you would wreck your car in one. I had some mild damage from driving slowly over one.
It was after heavy rain in Feb/March, but the road was really bad every visit.
I still highly recommend it and I went back a few times as it was that good.
Drive slowly as there are animals that pass on the road.
I also saw a coyote there which was awesome!
The only negative is that the road was in a really bad state and there were potholes so big that you would wreck your car in one. I had some mild damage from driving slowly over one.
It was after heavy rain in Feb/March, but the road was really bad every visit.
I still highly recommend it and I went back a few times as it was that good.
Drive slowly as there are animals that pass on the road.
I also saw a coyote there which was awesome!
Written August 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
0garibaldi0
328 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
I've been seeing more visitors lately and bad behavior. There are numerous posted signs indicating where not to stray and people flagrantly ignore them. I observed photographers willfully walking into flocks sitting on the banks of a pond, even running at them. It's unbelievable that at a wildlife REFUGE people lack the decency to respect the safety of these animals.
The point of an auto tour route is that the car acts as a "blind" so the animals don't get spooked. You're not supposed get out, walk around on the road and plant your tripod in the middle, blocking cars from getting through. I even saw someone doing a fashion shoot with a woman walking in the middle of the field where the snow geese feed. I never see anyone policing the area and I fear that this is going to get progressively worse.
People, please respect the wildlife! The rules are there for a reason.
The point of an auto tour route is that the car acts as a "blind" so the animals don't get spooked. You're not supposed get out, walk around on the road and plant your tripod in the middle, blocking cars from getting through. I even saw someone doing a fashion shoot with a woman walking in the middle of the field where the snow geese feed. I never see anyone policing the area and I fear that this is going to get progressively worse.
People, please respect the wildlife! The rules are there for a reason.
Written January 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RosalieBelmont
Belmont, CA309 contributions
Jan 2017
We arrived at 6:30am in time for the 7:05am sunrise. The sky was bright orange with the rising sun; Spoonies, Pintails, Coots, Snow Geese, Ross Geese, lots of bunnies, Redwing Blackbirds, Great Egrets, all adding to the beauty of the water reflecting the pink and orange light, with fog in the background. The best part was seeing hundreds of Sandhill Cranes in a nearby field and watching them take off and flying "across" the sun.
Written February 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill T
Alameda, CA54 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
This place is absolutely lovely. This visit we saw great horned owls, sand hill cranes, ibis, many kinds of geese, ring-necked pheasants, jack rabbits, and an abundance of hawks. I hear there are bald eagles around, but we didn't see any of those.
Written February 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amelia J
Merced County, CA16 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Especially during winter when you can see the sandhill cranes, the refuge is one of my favorite spots in Merced. You can see a stunning variety of birds and never leave your car! If you'd like to stretch you legs, there's two viewing platforms as well as three small trails to walk. A true gem of the area!
Written June 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cali4niahiker
Arlington, WA2,469 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
During late fall, winter, and early spring this refuge is home to thousands of birds. A good time to visit is about an hour before sundown. You will hear a multitude of bird languages! 😉
Written January 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ferd B
Scotts Valley101 contributions
May 2018
It is a nice Reserve but I need to go when more birds are available. It has a nice drive through the Reserve.
Written May 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
just_that_fast
Pacific Grove, CA30 contributions
May 2017
Lets be real, there is not a ton to do in Merced. I found myself there for a day and was pleasantly surprised by this park. There is a 5 mile look you can drive with three small hikes along the way. Even though the marshes were dried out, still saw a fair bit of wildlife. I would not travel to Merced just for this park, but if you are there and looking for something to do, have a look.
Written June 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Y
San Jose, CA197 contributions
Dec 2015 • Family
First of all, I have to say I don't know what to expect or what would be the standard of rating a Wildlife Refuge. So my rating is based on what I got from the place and whether it is worth the visit.
1. It is free. No door fees.
2. This place was recommended by friends to see the migrating birds at this refuge in winter. We saw literally thousands of geese flying at the same time (or filling part of the sky) when the birds came back before dusk.
3. The refuge has a looped auto tour (you can go as many rounds as you wish) and one can stop at a number of place to have close watch of birds.
4. We identified about 30 species of wildlife including Red-tailed Hawk, American Coots, Great Egrets, Blue Heron, Lesser Sandhill Cranes, Ross's Geese, Snowy Geese, Nortern Pintail, Black necked Stilts, American Avoct, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, American Wigeons, Greater White-Fronted Geese, etc.
5. Geese flying in practice formation in the morning within two hours after sunrise.
Suggestion: Bring your highest power binoculars, spotting scope, and/or longest telephoto lenses.
I will come back in February again to see whether more species will be available to me to see.
1. It is free. No door fees.
2. This place was recommended by friends to see the migrating birds at this refuge in winter. We saw literally thousands of geese flying at the same time (or filling part of the sky) when the birds came back before dusk.
3. The refuge has a looped auto tour (you can go as many rounds as you wish) and one can stop at a number of place to have close watch of birds.
4. We identified about 30 species of wildlife including Red-tailed Hawk, American Coots, Great Egrets, Blue Heron, Lesser Sandhill Cranes, Ross's Geese, Snowy Geese, Nortern Pintail, Black necked Stilts, American Avoct, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, American Wigeons, Greater White-Fronted Geese, etc.
5. Geese flying in practice formation in the morning within two hours after sunrise.
Suggestion: Bring your highest power binoculars, spotting scope, and/or longest telephoto lenses.
I will come back in February again to see whether more species will be available to me to see.
Written January 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ceal-SanJose
San Jose, CA23 contributions
Anybody know if the pit toilets are open or not with the shutdown?
Ceal-SanJose
San Jose, CA23 contributions
They were!
Barbara Susan C
Jasper, Canada8 contributions
I wonder if I am misinterpreting the posted instructions. The sign says to stay in your vehicle and not to walk or hike the auto tour route. We have been there several times and have seen lots of other nature/photography enthusiasts and we are almost the only car where the occupants stay in the car. This drives me crazy! We find a nice spot to stop and watch the water fowl and some car drives up, parks and the people get out. And guess what....the birds fly further into the preserve. If you want to see birds up close.....STAY in your car, please, people! It is a privilege to be able to drive into the preserve, let's not mess that up by disregarding the rules.
Am I wrong?
Should I politely remind people of the rules?
Maybe the "Stay in your car" sign needs to be bigger at the beginning of the auto tour portion of the preserve?
Ceal-SanJose
San Jose, CA23 contributions
Except for the few areas where viewing platforms exist or the photography blind you need to walk to, stay in the car: yep!
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