Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

Visitors to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge may be surprised to see that it is home to small, seasonal marsh wetlands. What they may not know is that it has some of the last, significant acres of Southern San Joaquin Valley grassland habitat. This habitat type provides nesting, foraging, and cover for a variety of species including the threatened Tipton kangaroo rat, the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. During the winter months, it is the best place in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to view sandhill cranes.

From State Highway 99, at the community of Earlimart, California, take the Avenue 56 exit (Sierra Ave.) west 5.7 miles. Just before Road 88 is a directional sign directing you to the refuge, turn north after the sign on Road 88. Take this road north for approximately 1 mile until you cross a small ditch (Deer Creek). Immediately after the ditch and to the west is a gravel parking area. The trailhead is found here. Trail guides are available in the box near the information sign. From Highway 43, turn east onto Sierra Avenue (Avenue 56). Continue east along Sierra Avenue (Avenue 56) to Road 88, where you will find a directional sign guiding you to the refuge. Turn north on Road 88 and proceed one mile until you cross a small ditch (Deer Creek). After the ditch, you will find the parking lot on the west side of the road and the trailhead.