Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge, National wildlife refuge in Skamania County, Washington, United States

Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in southwest Washington. It holds Franz and Arthur lakes, whose wapato stands feed wintering tundra swans, plus riparian wetlands, willow and cottonwood woodlands rising to old-growth fir and cedar, meadows, and streams and seeps.

Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area of southwest Washington. Its lakes and springs hold wapato stands that wintering tundra swans use, with up to 1,000 birds counted on Franz Lake. The springs and seeps serve as brood areas for coho salmon and other juvenile salmonids. The refuge can be viewed from an overlook off State Highway 14, and arranged group tours are available.

Franz and Arthur lakes hold healthy stands of wapato (Sagittaria latifolia), an aquatic plant with starchy tubers. The lakes are named after the Franz and Arthur families, and the wapato beds draw as many as 1,000 wintering tundra swans, along with western Canada geese, mallards and canvasbacks.

The refuge has no on-site visitor facilities; it is viewed from an overlook off-refuge along State Highway 14. Arranged group tours can be booked. The overlook lies in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area of southwest Washington.

The refuge's springs and seeps are brood areas for juvenile coho salmon and other salmonids, sheltering young fish from the Columbia River's currents. The lakes also hold wapato stands that feed wintering tundra swans, with up to 1,000 counted on Franz Lake.