Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

A five and half mile loop road with stops to walk on trails allows visitors to enjoy the ponderosa pine, wetlands, meadow steppe and riparian habitats and maybe spot some of the more than 200 different kinds of birds plus numerous large and small animals that make their homes in the refuge. This unique landscape was created after floods (12,000 - 18,000 years ago) from Glacier Lake Missoula scoured the layers of ancient basaltic lava flows leaving behind depression that became lakes. This is one of the most natural appearing preserves we have visited, even though, beginning in the 1880s, people did attempt to settle the land and altered it by digging ditches to drain the lakes. It has since been restored close to its original appearance.

     

We drove the loop road and walked/rolled along six of the shorter trails.

 Pine Lakes Loop Trail (designated accessible) is partly paved, partly gravel. It's accessible except the first section is very steep and wheelchair users may need assistance. This trail has the best access to lakes with a lot of ducks.

Windmill Pond Trail, which starts at the park headquarters (small accessible visitor center) is overgrown with grass and not accessible.

  

Blackhorse Lake Hiking Trail follows and old road and is accessible with assistance.

Kepple Lake Lookout Trail follows an old road then loops off to the lookout. The road is accessible but the loop trail is not.

Kepple Peninsula Interpretive Trail (designated accessible) is paved for 1/4 mile. The section that loops around is narrow and steep so this is an out and back trail.

Blackhorse Lake Boardwalk (designated accessible) is very short, paved and boardwalk, and leads to a view of Blackhorse Lake.

The refuge road is driveable with any RV but except for the lot at the park headquarters and an area along the side of the road at Blackhorse Lake Boardwalk, all of the lots are small and not suitable for anything over 25'.  Refuge  47.41542, -117.53281