I’m in love with this wildlife refuge. It’s been a source of growth, healing, and ...well, refuge.It’s well maintained and staffed with friendly people. We live a couple miles away and frequently visit the refuge. We take the kayaks, the boat to ski, we fish, we hike the trails, and we communicate with nature. It’s glorious.

Had a pleasant walk at the Visitor Center trail. Nice lake. Lots of sweet gum trees! Path is well marked and quite easy. Glad we went.

Great place to go out and be in nature. The new paved trail/sidewalk is awesome to skate on!!! Lets go roller skating!️

Very friendly staff. A bit annoying that we still cannot go inside as I have a very interested three year old that cries because we cant go all the way inside. It is understandable though.

Love the visitors center! So informative and the staff is always friendly and helpful.

It was absolutely beautiful and love it. Will defently come back soon.

A gem in Southern Illinois. The visitor center is a great place to stop. Knowledgeable staff. Interesting displays. Abundant wildlife, fishing, hiking and seasonal camping. Would recommend!

So much to see!! The sunset was gorgeous

Great area to get out in the woods, paths, and waterways. Was a great day

Fall fun day!

Beautiful forest with lake fishing and plenty of wildlife!

Great place to start your visit to Crab Orchard. The Rangers and volunteers are super helpful.

Blue Heron on the fishing dock near the Wolf Creek Causeway on the COWR.

Nice park but office staff unfriendly at RV campground.

Its a great place to stop and admire nature. Unfortunately we were on a time crunch but they have many beautiful trails and a great nature exhibit. This was my favorite place along our route from Houston to Chicago!

If you have a chance to visit Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, highly recommend it. The lake is beautiful and there work with bald eagles has been impressive. I will never forget the first time we saw one. It swooped right in front of our car. It was awesome. There are a lot of beautiful places in the area, well worth a long stay.

Awesome nature reserve.

Its small but the rangers are knowledgeable and give a lot of information.

Great little learning experience for kids with lots of taxidermied local animals and other learning opportunities. Nice little gift shop - great place for gifts for animal/nature lovers. Wonderful trails and nature-viewing stands nearby.

I have been fishing on Crab Orchard lake for several years now. But only half a dozen times in a year though. My oldest son and I come down to Marion through out the year to visit a friend and his family and always time to catch some slabs

This place is just beautiful Ill always go there for the fishing and just the nature

Wildlife, large fishing and camping areas, picnic area, clean. WHITE PELICANS

I loved the hike with a ranger. Its a great way to explore nature and spend quality time with my grandsons

Some nice hiking trails, a good place to bike around in, just a neat place for wildlife viewing.

A very nice spot for a quick hike. When we are passing through and have a little extra time we try to stop in to hike one of the two quick loops if not both.

My granddaughter and I had a great time. Very informative, and a great place to learn about nature!

Nice people. Liked our visit.

It was nice. I took my dog. He loved it.

Great place to take kids

Nice place to run or ride your bike.

So much to see and learn.

Beautiful, serene, good fishing and picnicking

Good place to visit

It was a cold hike today but enjoyable.

I was curious how a National Wildlife visitor center could have such bad reviews. Well now I know... I went in to buy a vehicle, and boat tags. The man working was not helpful, he acted like he didnt want to answer any of my questions. When I did get an answer he acted like they were dumb questions, and responded very rudely. Its upsetting that they are paid with tax payers money, but are rude to people who contribute to their wages. Unfortunately thats the only place close to my home where I can get vehicle tags, or I would be going else where.

Love to fish here

Great place to hike and fish.

It ticks me off how they stopped prorating season passes this had got to be one of the dumbest things ever.When I was younger I would take time out of my day to go clean up party spots of broken glass and other trash and rangers would alway harass me! The person cleaning up after the ones they obviously didnt harass. God forbid someone goes swimming at devils kitchen it will pollute the lake unlike that motor oil from those boat engines.

Came in seeking simple answers related to the National Forest in which this refuge is located. Upon entering the building, the gentleman on duty came stumbling out to greet me. While he said no words, his expression shouted at me What the hell do you want? I asked my questions, which were just about the simple dos-and-donts of camping within the National Forest, and the only thing he can come up with is I dont know, Im a wildlife refuge. He then gives me the same map of Shawnee Ive found at every other rest stop or visitor center and has nothing else to say. I said thanks and left, knowing I wasnt getting any answers here.It bewilders me that someone both so rude and unknowledgeable is allowed to be employed here, representing our nations parks.

Beautiful area to visit

Very nice park

Fabulous and scenic

Such a beautiful place

Favorite fishing spot, and lots of wild life

I recommend this place to everyone!

Nice

Beautiful

Beautiful getaway

Hunting trip to Crab Orchard Nov 2018

Great wildlife, lakes, and trails

Love this place

A national treasure!