Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge sits on the edge of the Channeled Scablands, a landscape that exists because of catastrophe. Near the end of the last Ice Age, an ice dam in northern Idaho repeatedly failed, releasing the vast waters of Glacial Lake Missoula in floods that raced across eastern Washington. Those floods scoured away the soil and gouged the basalt into channels, leaving a country of rock coulees and countless depressions.

Turnbull's wealth of ponds and wetlands sits in those flood-scoured hollows. This particular blend of scabland rock, water, and pine is unique within the entire national wildlife refuge system, which is part of why the refuge was set aside. To walk here is to walk across the floor of a flood that reshaped the Northwest thousands of years ago.

Turnbull's signature bird is the trumpeter swan, the largest waterfowl in North America. Unlike the smaller tundra swans that only pass through on migration, trumpeters nest and live on the refuge, and seeing these huge white birds gliding across a scabland pond is a highlight for many visitors.

They are far from alone. The refuge's more than one hundred and thirty wetlands draw ducks, geese, grebes, and shorebirds in great numbers, especially during the spring and fall migrations, and the marshes ring with the calls of red-winged blackbirds and yellow-headed blackbirds in season. The mix of open water and forest edge makes for exceptional birding.

Away from the water, the refuge rises into open stands of ponderosa pine, their bark warm and cinnamon-colored, mixed with quaking aspen and steppe grassland studded with rock outcrops. This variety of habitat supports a rich cast of animals beyond the birds.

Moose have become a regular sight, wading the wetlands and browsing the willows, and the refuge is also home to elk, deer, coyotes, and busy colonies of beaver whose dams help shape the ponds. Early morning and evening are the best times to catch the larger animals out and moving.

The heart of a visit is the public use area in the southern part of the refuge, where a five-plus-mile auto tour loop winds among the ponds and pines, letting you watch wildlife from your car. Several short trails branch off for those who want to walk, including boardwalks and paths to overlooks, and the pace everywhere is calm and quiet.

The seasons change the experience completely. Spring and fall bring the migration and the greatest numbers of birds, summer is warm and busy with young wildlife and, unfortunately, mosquitoes near the water, and winter drapes the scabland in snow and silence. Whatever the season, the refuge offers a big dose of nature just minutes from Cheney and Spokane.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, near the town of Cheney just south of Spokane in eastern Washington, protects a beautiful landscape of ponds, wetlands, meadows, and pine forest within the Channeled Scablands, providing important habitat for abundant wildlife. The refuge is a superb destination for birdwatching and wildlife viewing, home to numerous waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, and other species, along with moose, elk, deer, and other animals. Featuring a scenic auto tour route and walking trails, Turnbull offers accessible opportunities to observe wildlife amid lovely scablands scenery. With its ponds, forests, trails, and rich wildlife, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge offers rewarding birdwatching and nature viewing near Spokane, Washington.

You can drive the scenic auto tour loop through the refuge to view wildlife from your vehicle, walk the nature trails through the ponds, wetlands, meadows, and pine forest, watch for abundant birds including waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors, and larger animals like moose, elk, and deer, birdwatch, and photograph the wildlife and scablands scenery. Bringing binoculars enhances the experience. Dawn and dusk are prime for wildlife activity. With its auto tour, trails, ponds, and rich wildlife including moose, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge offers rewarding and accessible wildlife viewing and birdwatching near Spokane, Washington.

Spring is especially wonderful, bringing nesting birds, abundant waterfowl, wildflowers, and active wildlife, while fall migration also offers good birdwatching and pleasant weather, and spring and fall provide comfortable conditions for the trails and auto tour. Summer is pleasant, though some areas may be drier, and winter is cold and quiet. Dawn and dusk are best for wildlife, including the chance to spot moose. For the most abundant birdlife and active wildlife, aim for spring, at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, when the refuge is especially lively.

Yes, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is home to moose, and visitors sometimes spot these large animals in the refuge's wetlands, ponds, and forested areas, especially around dawn and dusk when they are most active, making it one of the appealing wildlife-viewing opportunities at the refuge along with the abundant birds and other animals. Moose are impressive to see but are large, powerful wild animals, so observe them from a safe distance and never approach them. With patience, quiet observation, and luck, especially in the early morning or evening, visitors may be rewarded with a moose sighting at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is near the town of Cheney just south of Spokane in eastern Washington, near Eastern Washington University, and within reach of downtown Spokane with Riverfront Park and the Spokane Falls, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, and the scablands and lakes of the region. That makes Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge a rewarding nature and birding stop to combine with Spokane's attractions and the other sights of eastern Washington on a visit to the state.