Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in southeastern Idaho that contains wetlands and grasslands set within a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains. The landscape includes water, marsh, and open meadows all surrounded by high peaks.

The refuge was established in 1965 to protect the natural area and its wildlife. It received its name from a Canadian trapper who explored this region during the early years of European settlement.

The wetland is an important destination for people interested in watching birds and studying nature in its wild state. The marsh landscape defines the place and provides home to animals that have become rare elsewhere.

The location sits roughly 30 miles north of Soda Springs with few shops or services nearby. Bring your own supplies and plan travel time accordingly to reach this remote spot.

The lake contains North America's largest marsh of a specific bulrush species and serves as the primary breeding ground for one of the continent's largest populations of sandhill cranes. These tall marsh birds gather here in numbers found at very few other places.

Location: Idaho

Inception: 1965

Website: https://fws.gov/refuge/grays_lake

GPS coordinates: 43.06300,-111.42700

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:03