Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge encompasses 18,000 acres of cattail marsh, open water, and flooded meadows at an elevation between 5,925 and 6,800 feet in southeast Idaho.

Established in 1968, the refuge incorporates the Dingle Marsh, which decreased from 25,000 to 17,000 acres after a prehistoric lake receded over time.

The refuge functions as an educational site where visitors observe natural behaviors of over 160 bird species in their preserved habitat.

Visitors can access the Wildlife Observation Route by car to view multiple marshes and ponds between mid-April and mid-October.

The refuge provides nesting grounds for Trumpeter swans, which build their nests on muskrat lodges and display an eight-foot wingspan.

Location: Bear Lake County

Operator: US Fish and Wildlife Service

GPS coordinates: 42.17454,-111.31777

Latest update: March 6, 2025 21:17