Erie National Wildlife Refuge is located in Crawford County, 35 miles south of the City of Erie and 10 miles east of Meadville on the outskirts of Guys Mills village.

The refuge consists of two separate land units. The Sugar Lake Division, containing 5,206 acres,is the unit closest to Guys Mills. The Seneca Division, containing 3,571 acres, is 10 miles north of the Sugar Lake Division and borders French Creek near Cambridge Springs.

The primary objective of the refuge is to provide waterfowl and other migratory birds with nesting, feeding, brooding, and resting habitat. Other objectives are to provide habitat to support a diversity of wildlife species and to enhance opportunities for wildlife-oriented public recreation and environmental education.

The diverse habitat types found on Erie NWR attract over 237 species of birds, 47 species of mammals and 37 species of amphibians and reptiles. Waterfowl migrations occur from March to early April and again from September to November.