Columbia National Wildlife Refuge

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge is w. on Main. St. to Broadway, then 5 mi. n. to the first paved road and on to the park entrance, 51 S. Morgan Lake Rd. This 29,600-acre refuge is a nesting area for numerous species of birds. Blue-winged and cinnamon teal as well as redhead, ruddy and mallard ducks nest in the summer. Ledges and cracks in the cliffs provide habitats for red-tailed hawks, swallows, ravens, and great horned and barn owls as well as marmot colonies.

The Drumheller Channels—a jumble of cliffs, canyons, lakes and the remnants of lava flows—can be seen along Morgan Lake Road in the northern portion of the refuge. These channeled scablands were created by Ice Age floods some 12,000 years ago. The Wetlands to Rimrocks Trails (some 6 miles of hiking paths) thread through this area; hikers should stay on the trails, bring water and watch out for rattlesnakes.

Visitor information is available from the refuge office at 51 S. Morgan Lake Rd.

Time: Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.