Camas National Wildlife Refuge

Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho.

About half of the Camas National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Idaho consists of lakes, ponds, and marshlands; the remainder is grass sagebrush uplands, meadows, and farm fields. Camas Creek flows through the length of the refuge.

During migration, which peaks in March-April and October, up to 50,000 ducks and 3,000 geese may be present on the refuge. Tundra and trumpeter swans visit in the hundreds during migration.

The refuge has become a popular swan watching destination with hundreds of tundra and trumpeter swans stopping over during migration. Several state record songbird observations have been made in refuge cottonwood groves on the refuge.

Water management is a critical component of Camas Refuge operations. An extensive system of canals, dikes, wells, ponds, and water-control structures is used to manipulate water for the benefit of wildlife, with an emphasis on nesting waterfowl.

Haying and prescribed fire are used to manipulate vegetation in some fields, and small grain crops are grown to provide supplemental feed for geese and cranes and to keep them from damaging private croplands.

Nearby Activities


Directions

Camas National Wildlife Refuge is located in Eastern Idaho just west of Interstate 15, approximately 50 miles south of the Montana/Idaho border and approximately 35 miles north of the city of Idaho Falls. Refuge headquarters can be accessed from Interstate 15 via Exit 150 to the town of Hamer, Idaho. From Hamer, turn to the north on Old Butte Highway and travel approximately three miles to get to an overpass and county road 2350 N. The Refuge headquarters is approximately two miles west of the I15 overpass.

Additional Information