Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1932 primarily as a resting and breeding ground for migratory birds and to provide a haven for resident wildlife. The Refuge is located in the southern part of the Laramie Plains, a montane, park-like geographic area surrounded by mountains in southeastern Wyoming. The Refuge, at an elevation of 7,150 feet, includes 1,968 acres of greasewood and grassland uplands and marshlands. There are five small lakes on the Refuge (Hutton, Creighton, George, Rush, and Hoge) which were developed from natural sumps. A large variety of waterfowl and water birds can be seen on the Refuge during spring and fall migrations. Raptors and pronghorn use the Refuge year-round. The Refuge is not staffed and is a satellite of Arapaho NWR.

Refuge habitat consists of 1,408 acres of greasewood/grassland uplands and 560 acres of open water and marsh. A large variety of waterfowl can be seen on the Refuge during spring and fall migrations. Other waterbirds include Wilsons phalaropes, willets, American avocets, black-necked stilts, black-crowned night herons, eared grebes, and pied-billed grebes. Swainson's hawks, northern harriers, golden eagles, white-tailed prairie dogs, and pronghorn are also common on the Refuge.

The Refuge was established in 1932 primarily as a resting and breeding ground for migratory birds and to provide a haven for resident wildlife. The Refuge has been managed as a stopover site for migratory birds, with an emphasis on waterfowl. At one time, the station was staffed, but with the creation of Arapaho NWR in the late 1960s, the staff was moved to Walden, Colorado.