Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge

The 2,062-acre Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge is contained within the Tribal Trust Lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The property is about 5 miles south of the town of Ronan. Most of the property is water surface, there are only 390 acres of exposed land in a narrow band around the reservoir.

Fishing is allowed from the shore of the lake as long as the fishermen are operating in accordance with applicable State and Tribal regulations. Right off Highway 93 is a Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area, established jointly by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. There is also a short accessible trail with interpretive signs discussing the habitat and wildlife along the shore of Ninepipe Reservoir.

The property is closed to all hunting and portions of the property are closed in the spring to minimize human disturbance of nesting birds. Adjoining Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge is some 3,420 acres of State Game Management Area where the land is managed for food production and wildlife cover and where seasonal public hunting is allowed.

While the occassional grizzly bear wanders down to the lake for a drink now and then, you'll mostly find mammals like porcupines, muskrats, striped skunk, field mice, meadow voles, mink and badgers on the property. For birds you might find bitterns, grebes, Canada geese, ospreys, great blue herons and various species of ducks depending on the season.

The property is directly off of US Highway 93. It is essentially unstaffed and has no visitor improvements. The US Fish & Wildlife Service manages the refuge as an easement, meaning jurisdiction applies only to species and habitat management. Ninepipe NWR is managed from an office at the National Bison Range, only a few miles to the southwest (by road).