Mingo National Wildlife Refuge consists of 21,592 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-tupelo swamp, marsh and upland forest ecosystems. The refuge is managed for wildlife habitat and people. The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl and to protect the bottomland hardwood forest.

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge provides a number of great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The mixture of bottomland forests, wetlands and swamps creates great waterways for canoeing and kayaking, and has miles of wildlife drives, a variety of hiking trails, and prime locations for hunting and fishing.

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visiting Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is an opportunity to see how much of southeast Missouri appeared before development, when 2.5 million acres were bottomland hardwood forest and cypress-tupelo swamp. This rich habitat supports many species of wildlife and provides us the chance to appreciate them in a variety of ways.