Turnbull Nature Drive

Check it out

Distance: 5-1/2 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Driving time: 1/2 hour

Season: Year around

Maps: USGS Cheney and brochure available at refuge headquarters

Info: Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, (509) 235-4723

Nature-watching trip notes

Access: From Cheney, head south on Cheney-Plaza Road 4-1/3 miles. Turn east on Smith Road toward Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge headquarters.

Attractions: Peak of spring waterfowl migration is mid-March through mid-April. However, ducks such as cinnamon, blue-wing and green-wing teal, tend to filter in during late April and early May to nest along with numerous Canada geese.

Spring wildflowers abundant. At least one endangered trumpeter swan has been a fixture at Winslow Pool for more than 20 years.

Fall migration also is prime time, however there’s not as much music in the air as during the courtship time of spring.

Although road is graveled, auto tour route shown on map also is excellent for fat-tire bicycling. However, visitors who approach wildlife quietly and stay in vehicles often get closer to wildlife.

Allow plenty of time for walking the area’s numerous visitor use hiking trails. Restrooms and Blackhorse Lake boardwalk are accessible to wheelchairs.

Comments: Bring binoculars! Best times to view wildlife are near dawn and dusk, especially in warmer temperatures. Wildlife tends to rest during heat of day.

Common sights include numerous songbirds, woodpeckers and other creatures such as muskrats and deer. Roughly 100 elk reside on or near the refuge.

Deep waters of Kepple Lake particularly good bet for seeing diving ducks such as redheads, canvasbacks, scaup.

Natural wetlands at Turnbull attracted waterfowl for centuries and continue to be wildlife oasis in area where most wetlands have been drained. Man-made islands created in 1970s to protect nesting ducks and geese from predators have proved ineffective.

Coyotes and raccoons are more willing to swim for a meal than biologists once thought. Gradually, many islands are being removed and more natural setting restored.

Refuge was designated in 1937 and enlarged to 14,667 acres in 10 years of purchases. Turnbull among first refuges to be purchased with funds from sale of “duck stamps” to sportsmen.

Fee for entering refuge March 1-Oct. 31 is $3 per vehicle. Fee waived if visitor has federal duck stamp or Golden Eagle, Golden Age or Golden Access passports. Refuge also has $12 annual refuge pass.

Most of refuge and service roads closed to public access. Visitors restricted to 2,200-acre visitor use area.

Bikes discouraged on hiking trails. Vehicles must stay on roads. Pack out all garbage. Pets discouraged, but tolerated if kept on leash.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of Turnbull Nature Drive

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