Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Medicine Lake hosts one of the largest concentrations of American white pelicans in the nation, a colony of thousands of birds that has occupied Big Island and Bridgeman Point for almost 100 years. There are few facilities available, but that’s the point. The refuge has a relatively high visitation from hard-core birders who view migrating waterbirds in the spring and hunters who pursue upland game birds and waterfowl in the fall. Other than those seasons, you’ll have the refuge to yourself. Bring good boots and long pants and hike into remote ponds and prairie potholes that hold an unbelievable amount of wildlife. Winding through the central unit of the refuge is the Auto Tour Route, an excellent way to get a peek at the animals that call this pristine park home. Most of the route is open only during daylight hours. Birders often congregate in the Grouse Observation Blind, 2¼ miles east of the refuge headquarters, to watch sharp-tailed grouse do their mating dance. The covered area is also good for watching other wildlife, including white-tailed deer and pronghorn antelope.
