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Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge


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National Park Overview
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the largest hardstem bulrush marsh in North America. Located in a high mountain valley - Soda Springs in southeastern Idaho, the refuge and surrounding mountains offer incredible scenic vistas, wildflowers and fall foliage displays. Lands adjacent to the 19,400-acre refuge are primarily wet meadows and grasslands. Grays Lake Refuge provides breeding habitat for over 200 species of mammals, birds, fish and amphibians.

The refuge hosts a large nesting population of greater sandhill cranes as many as 1200 individuals are counted in the valley during migration and staging times. The refuge is a birding destination and a good area to view the rare trumpeter swans. This --pristine montane wetland is being threatened by the same type of suburban/rural development that has so heavily impacted nearby Jackson Hole.

Nature of the Area
Grays Lake Refuge is 27 miles north of Soda Springs in southeast Idaho. It lies in a high mountain valley at 6,400 feet. Grays "Lake" is actually a large, shallow marsh. It has little open water and is covered with dense vegetation, primarily bulrush and cattail. Wet meadows and grasslands surround the marsh. Winters at Grays Lake are severe and long. Snow cover lasts from November through April and frost may occur any month of the year. Warm days and cool nights characterize summers, with high temperatures only rarely exceeding 90 degrees. Annual precipitation averages about 15 inches.

Grays Lake Refuge was established in 1965 with the primary objective of protecting and restoring habitat for nesting ducks and geese. Each spring, when the snow melts in April or May - large variety of waterfowl migrate through the refuge and some stay to nest. The refuges common nesting species include the mallard, cinnamon teal, canvasback, lesser scaup, redhead and Canada goose. In recent years, trumpeter swans have reestablished as an important nesting species. Grays Lake is one of the best areas in this region to observe the rare trumpeter. In a typical breeding season, the refuge may produce up to 5,000 ducks, 2,000 geese and over 20 swans. Ducks and geese, the last birds to migrate south in the fall, remain until freeze-up, which usually occurs in November.

Grays Lake hosts the largest nesting population of greater sandhill cranes in the world. Over 200 nesting pairs have been counted in some years. Sandhills begin arriving in early April. In the fall, the refuge serves as a staging area - place where cranes gather before migrating south to New Mexico -rizona and Mexico for the winter. During the staging period in late September and early October -s many as 3,000 cranes have been observed in the valley at one time.

Abundant wet meadows, shallow water, mudflats and bulrush marshes provide habitat for a large variety of waterbirds. A great number use the refuge during spring, summer and fall. Franklins gulls nest in large colonies in bulrush habitat -long with a lesser number of white-faced ibis. Grebes, bitterns and elusive rails are also present. Shorebirds include curlews, snipe, phalaropes and willets.

Refuge habitat supports a variety of other migratory birds, including eagles, hawks, falcons and many species of songbirds. Non-migratory birds include ruffed and sharp-tailed grouse. Large mammals regularly seen at Grays Lake are moose, elk and mule deer. Smaller mammals include muskrats, ground squirrels and badgers.

Fishing and Hunting
Hunting

Hunting for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers is permitted in designated areas. Hunting for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers is permitted in designated areas. All other species of wildlife are protected and may not be killed. All hunters must carry a valid Idaho hunting license and all required State and Federal stamps, validations and permits. Dates, hunting hours and bag limits correspond to State regulations. Temporary blinds of natural vegetation may be constructed, but such blinds shall be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Construction of permanent blinds is prohibited. Although nonmotorized boats are permitted - boat is not necessary for waterfowl hunting on the refuge. There are no launching ramps and the marsh is suitable for car-top type boats only.



More Info

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge Photographs before 1980 Photographs from the 1980s Photographs from the 1990s
Locater map for Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge Refuges Home Page
...ys Lake National Wildlife Refuge Select a location. 1999 DEC 10 last updated on 2003 SEP 04 D.L. Gustafson, dlg@rapid.msu.montana.edu Graphical Locater Home Page
crane eggs from Wood Buffalo National Park to the nests of greater sandhill cranes at Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho. This Rocky Mountain population peaked at 33 birds in 1985, but
...d Checklists of the United States Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge Wayan, Idaho A Bird Haven Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in southeast Idaho, 27 miles north of Soda Springs

ID (Printed 7/01) Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge -- Nampa, ID (Printed 6/90) Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge -- Wayan, ID (Printed 3/95) Idaho Falls District Bird Guide -- Idaho Falls, ID

of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. A second foster population migrates from Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge on the Rio Grande

of waterfowl and other species of migratory birds. Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Formation Spring Preserve are three areas offering a wide variety of
...ys Lake coring in February 1997 GRAYS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO, U.S.A. The marshes that
lake comprise the Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge, one of the
...Coast is considered the only domestic source for high quality,American-made coin-operated
Wildlife Refuge Missouri Valley, IA Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge Wayan, ID Brussels District

birds. Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Formation Spring Preserve are three
1,000 feet long. Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge on Highway 34

Grays Lake Refuge is north of Soda Springs, off Route 34. The turnoff is about 27 miles north of Soda Springs and 21 miles from Freedom, Wyoming.

The turnoff is signed. From the intersection it is about 3 miles north to the refuge office, visitor center and overlook.

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge