Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located approximately 28 miles north of Oshkosh, Nebraska. The Refuge was established in 1931 to help conserve waterfowl populations. It is located at the eastern edge of the Nebraska panhandle in Garden County, on the southwestern edge of the 19,000 square mile Nebraska sandhills. The sandhills are characterized by continuous grass and forb-covered dunes and swales and are considered to be the largest body of sand in the world that is not a desert. Where the swales dip below the water table, sub-irrigated meadows, marshes, and lakes have formed. In most cases, no stream systems exist between wetlands. Many lakes are maintained solely by underground water sources. The 45,849-acre Refuge is largely grasslands dotted with hundreds of permanent, semipermanent, and temporary wetlands. It is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as part of the Crescent Lake/North Platte National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Complex headquarters is 100 miles to the west in the city of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Crescent Lake NWR is located approximately 28 miles north of Oshkosh, Nebraska. From U.S. Highway 26, turn north on West Second. Proceed north out of town (oil road will convert to gravel), and follow directional signs to the Refuge headquarters. From U.S. Highway 2, turn south just east of Lakeside, Nebraska. Follow directional signs to the Refuge headquarters (approximately 28 miles).