Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately a half hour west of Spokane, Washington, the second largest city in the state and the largest city in Eastern Washington.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
This unique area is called the Channeled Scablands ecosystem. It was created approximately 15,000 years ago during the last Ice Age when an ice dam broke in northern Idaho and emptied approximately 500 square miles of Glacial Lake Missoula across Washington/Oregon and into the Pacific Ocean. The overflowing waters scoured the land of its soil, created waterfalls, Basalt Coulees, giant current ripples, gravel bars, potholes, and Buttes. Some areas have very little soil, but the Ponderosa Pine has found areas to thrive.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge was in the path of the floods, and today it features over 130 wetlands, ponds, and mixed Ponderosa Pine Forest, aspen, and Steppe Grassland. This is a perfect habitat for migratory birds and wildlife!
Things to know before you visit Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Entrance fee
Bike/pedestrian - $3.00 per family from March through October. There is no entrance fee from November through February.
per vehicle - $3.00 per vehicle from March through October. There is no entrance fee from November through February.
Duck Stamp - $25.00
The Federal Duck Stamp is so much more than just a hunting stamp. They cover the admittance fee to National Wildlife Refuges, as well as being required for Migratory Bird Hunters (primarily duck and goose hunters). They are also collectible works of art and an easy way for everyone to help support wetland conservation.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Map
Refuge Information
Time Zone - Pacific Standard Time
Size - 23,000 acres
Date Established - On July 30, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7681 and established the Turnbull Migratory Waterfowl Refuge.
Phone Number - (509)235-4723
Address
26010 South Smith Road
Cheney, WA. 99004
Pets - Pets must be on a leash 6 feet or shorter at all times.
Cell Service - There is great service in the nearby town on Cheney, Washington but it can quickly ecome limited once you get out of town and enter the refuge.
Hours -
6:00 am through 6:00 pm from November to April
6:00 am through 9:00 pm from May to October
Wi-Fi Available - No
Food/Restaurants - There are no restaurants in the refuge, but there are numerous restaurants in the nearby town of Cheney. Cheney is a college town, home of Eastern Washington University, so there is no shortage of fast food in the area.
Gas - The refuge does not have and gas stations but there are several locations in the nearby town of Cheney, Washington.
Drones
Drones are not allowed in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.
Electric Vehicle Charging - The only EV charging station in Cheney, Washington is at CHAS Cheney Dental Clinic. There are several EV charging spots at the Petro Gas Station on the corner of Interstate 90 and Highway 902 15 miles from the refuge.
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
Getting to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Estimated Distance from Major Cities
Spokane, Washington - 24 miles, 35 minutes
Coeur D 'Alene, Idaho - 56 Miles, 1 hour and 10 minutes
Pasco, Washington - 129 Miles, 2 hours
Missoula, Montana - 221 miles, 3 hours, 30 minutes
Seattle, Washington - 273 Miles, 4 hours, 15 minutes
Closest Airports
International Airports
22 miles - Spokane International Airport (GEG)
129 miles - Tri Cities Airport (Pasco, Washington) (PSC)
276 miles - Seattle International Airport (SEA)
Driving Directions
From Spokane, Washington, travel West on Interstate 90 to the Cheney/Four Lakes Exit 270 and continue on Highway 904/ Drive 6.2 miles, then turn left onto S Cheney Palza Rd. Drive 4.2 miles and turn into the entrance of the Refuge on the left (Smith Road).
Best time to visit
Spring is a great time to visit the refuge. Make sure to look for migrating birds, especially the Trumpeter Swans! I also love the fall and search for Elk and Moose! I saw the largest elk and turkey I have ever seen in Turnbull!
Weather and Seasons
Spring and Fall
Spring is a great time to visit! The temperatures are usually very pleasant, especially when going out for a hike or spending hours birdwatching. Spring and fall migration is also incredible, and I have seen numerous species during this time.
Summer
Summers in the Pacific Northwest are typically hot and dry. The temperatures can reach/exceed 100 degrees, then cool off by thirty degrees at night. There is relatively low humidity in this area making it prone to wildfires, especially late summer into fall.
Winter
Winters can be cold and snowy with temperatures falling below freezing. I personally love snowshoeing in this area in the winter as there is typically hardly ever anyone around and you can find complete silence! It is truly an incredible experience.
Best Things to do at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Auto Tour
The auto tour is a one-way 5.5-mile loop drive and provides access to several trails like the Bluebird Trail, Keppple Peninsula Trail, 30 Acre Lake Trail, and the West Blackhorse Trail. It's a great way to look for some of the area's wildlife too!
Hiking
There are 11 miles of hiking trails to explore in Turnbull with access to the wetlands and ponds, the pine forests, and the open grasslands.
Pine Lake Loop Trail - 1.1 mile easy, Accessible loop trail. This is also one of my favorite trails in Turnbull, as the trail circles Pine Lake and has a photo blind. I have seen lots of wildlife on Pine Lake, including Tundra Swans, Cinnamon Teals, Red-winged Blackbirds, and mallards.
Headquarters Trail - .36 mile easy loop trail that starts off by the Environmental Education building and park headquarters. This is another great trail to see wildlife as the trail passes by riparian, forest, and wetland habitats.
You will notice fencing around young aspen and dogwood trees to help protect them from grazing moose! Yes, there are several moose in the area! The trail passes by Headquaters pond and Windmill Pond, a favorite spot for ducks like pintails and buffleheads.
Stubblefield Trail - 4.95-mile moderate lollipop-shaped trail. This is the refuge's longest trail and offers breathtaking views of the rolling grasslands, especially in the spring/summer when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Bluebird Trail - 1.79-mile easy out-and-back trail. This trail largely follows an old maintenance road through the Ponderosa Pine Forest
30-Acre Lake Trail - .75-mile easy out-and-back trail. This is a nice flat trail that passes by 30-Acre Lake and open pine grasslands. This is a great place to see raptors like Ospreys, owls, and even Northern Harriers!
Kepple Penninsula Trail - .5 mile easy lollipop trail. This is a great place to go for a stroll, picnic at a covered pavilion, and watch for wildlife.
Blackhorse Lake Boardwalk - .1 mile easy out and back accessible boardwalk loop trail. There is a nice viewing area with several benches to look out over Blackhorse Lake and all the wildlife in the area.
Columbia Plateau Trail - The Columbia Plateau Trail is a 130-mile multi-use trail operated by Washington State Parks, with 4.75 miles through the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. The closest access point is the Cheney Trailhead. Travel a little over a mile towards the Amber Lake Trailhead, and the trail enters Turnbull. This is my favorite part of this trail and is typically very quiet; in fact, many times I have gone here and never seen anyone. I did, however, see lots of wildlife! I have seen lots of coyote, elk, moose, White-tailed deer, mule deer, porcupines, beavers, and even saw a cougar (mountain Lion)! There are also numerous species of waterfowl along the lakes you pass by, including the American Coot, mallards, Canada Geese, and redhead ducks, to name a few.
Bird watching
Turnbull was established to protect migratory waterfowl with a more recent focus on Redhead Ducks.
Turnbull has also had 223 species of birds recorded with over 180 breeding, resident, and migrating bird species. It is also known for its diverse waterfowl population with 5 species of grebes, and 29 species of ducks and geese! Make sure to have a camera ready.
Wildlife Viewing
My first trip to Turnbull is one I will never forget! I saw so many elk including the largest elk I have ever seen!
Large mammals that you can see include moose, Rocky Mountain elk, White-tailed, and Mule deer,
Medium sized animals include Coyote, badger, river otter, muskrat, bobcat, porcupines, and more!
Small animals include the yellow-bellied marmot, red squirrels, mice and voles.
Lodging near Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
The Davenport Grand, Autograph Collection
Click here to book your stay at The Davenport Grand, Autograph Collection
If I stay the night in Spokane, this is where I will stay! The hotel has a nice modern design in the heart of downtown with a parking garage/valet parking, restaurants, free WIFI, fitness center, view rooms of Riverfront Park, a fantastic shower, and a super comfortable bed.
It's also centrally located to everything in Spokane, including the Spokane Convention Center, the Spokane Arena, The Podium, and One Spokane Stadium.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cheney
Click here to book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cheney
This is the closest hotel to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. It's a short drive to downtown Spokane. They offer free WIFI, complimentary self-parking, buffet breakfast included, an indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center.
Click on the map below for vacation rentals and lodges near the park.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Camping
There is no camping available in the refuge, but there are several lodging options and private campgrounds nearby.
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resources
The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crucade for America
This is a great book that centers on Roosevelt's conservation efforts and his role in establishing the Wildlife Refuge system.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This book provides an in-depth coverage of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Agency that manages the National Wildlife Refuge System, protects endangered species, and conducts fish and wildlife research.
Blue Goose Passport Book
The Blue Goose Passport is named after the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System and is designed to record your visits to National Wildlife Refuges.
America's National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide
An all-in-one guide to more than 500 sites in the National Wildlife Refuge System. This book lists each refuge alphabetically by state, providing basic information about accessibility, facilities, and habitat types.
National Parks near Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Mount Rainier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Mount Rainier National Park
North Cascades National Park - Complete Guide to exploring North Cascades National Park
Olympic National Park - Complete guide to exploring Olympic National Park
Check out all of the Washington National Parks along with neighboring Oregon National Parks, Idaho National Parks, National Parks in Hawaii, and National Parks in Alaska
Spokane Area Attractions
Northern Quest RV Park - Looking for a camping spot that's filled with amenities, has cabins, a pool, and much more? Look no further than Northern Quest RV Resort.
Northern Quest Resort - Spend the night in this beautiful hotel that even comes with a pillow menu!
La Rive Spa at Northern Quest - Indulge in a fantastic spa experience, complete with an experiential shower and hot tub.
Things to do in Spokane, Washington - Explore the Lilac City like a pro with a guide made by someone who has spent decades in Spokane!
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
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