Conboy Lake
Plan Your Visit
Picture a rustic cabin in a grassy meadow bursting with colorful blooms. The smell of tall, ruddy-barked ponderosa pines fills the air. The distinctive trumpeting of Sandhill cranes echoes throughout the refuge as they descend to their valley home. Calm water reflects the rich and varied greens of meadows and forested hills. Dancing glints of sunlight catch the eye as a stream winds its way from hill to lake. This, in part, is the experience of Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and you are welcome here. In fact, people have been coming here for millennia. Native Americans found life-sustaining resources in abundance, and nineteenth century settlers could see its tremendous potential as a place to call home. All the while, the wildlife lived here, too.
Much of Conboy Lake is closed to public access to protect its rare and precious wildlife. However, many interesting parts are open. Please take a moment to orient yourself as to what is open and what is closed, and please follow all closures and regulations in order to protect the refuge's fragile wildlife and plants.
Hours Determined by the Sun
The areas of Conboy Lake open to general public use are open from sunrise to sunset every day. (Hunting has special hours and access. Please visit our Rules & Regulations page for specific information.)
Conditions Vary by Season
Winter in the Cascades can be severe. However, if you visit any other time of the year there are no special precautions needed as the climate and terrain is not extreme. Carry water, dress in layers, let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back, respect the wildlife and you'll be guaranteed a pleasant visit. None of the areas open to public use would be considered backcountry, and facilities are never more than a few minutes away, although there may not be staff around.
Road Conditions and Parking
Speaking of facilities . . . The road into the refuge is gravel, but in excellent shape. County roads are in good repair. In fact, refuge roads and county roads are great places to observe wildlife—just be sure you use common sense and follow traffic laws. The Willard Springs Trail is an easy two-mile hike with a moderate grade, and a wildlife observation platform is located on the trail. Access to the trail, parking and restrooms are available at the refuge headquarters.
Directions from Glenwood
From Glenwood, head west on Main Street for about a third of a mile. As the road begins to curve follow the it to the left onto Draper Springs/Trout Lake Highway. Go 4.8 miles further to the marked entrance on your left for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The parking area will be a mile ahead of you.
Directions from White Salmon
White Salmon, Washington, head west on State Route 14 (Lewis and Clark Highway). Turn right onto State Route 141 (Washington 141 Alternate North). After 2.2 miles, turn left onto State Route 141 North. Follow this for about 7.9 miles and turn right onto Glenwood Road. In about 1 mile Glenwood Road turns into the BZ-Glenwood Highway; follow this for another 8.1 miles and turn left onto Laurel Road. In 3.5 miles turn right onto Trout Lake-Greenwood Road. In another mile, turn right into the marked entrance for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The parking area will be a mile ahead of you.
Activities
Services
Other Facilities in the Complex
About
Nestled near the foot of Mount Adams in Washington's Cascades Range, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a scenic gem within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Conboy Lake's lush seasonal marshes and vibrant forested uplands beckon to both visitors and wildlife. Located within an easy drive of Portland, Oregon, Conboy Lake is being 'discovered' by those seeking diverse scenery, idyllic recreational opportunities and a link to the history of the Northwest.
The refuge is a haven for plants and animals, supporting Washington's largest and healthiest populations of Oregon coyote-thistle, rosy owl-clover, Kelloggs's rush, dwarf rush and long-bearded sego lily. A blend of oak, pine and aspen forests, wetlands, grassy prairies and streams support a diverse and plentiful wildlife community. The rich habitat diversity sustains thriving populations of migrating waterfowl and songbirds. The rare Oregon spotted frog breeds in wetlands throughout the refuge. Elk are plentiful and frequently seen along refuge roads. And Conboy Lake supports the only breeding population of greater Sandhill cranes in Washington, around 25 pairs.
While the scenery and the plentiful, charismatic wildlife are what draw people in, visitors soon discover that Conboy Lake Refuge offers hidden treats, esoteric gems that will keep them returning for years. Elk and deer may be the stars, but visitors soon learn about - and come to appreciate - Oregon spotted frogs, nesting greater sandhill cranes and the variety of rare plants found on the refuge. A quiet place outside of hunting seasons, solitude is an easily found commodity and greatly appreciated by those coming from bustling metropolitan areas. As a national wildlife refuge, this living system will satisfy your longing for splendor and serenity, just as it did for the indigenous peoples, explorers, loggers and ranchers who were first drawn to the valley’s plentiful resources.
And history is an important part of Conboy Lake. Native Americans once depended on the area's plentiful resources; in fact, they still do, collecting plants for food and religious purposes. These same resources drew settlers to the area, arriving in the 1870s. One of the early homes, the Whitcomb-Cole Hewn Log House, still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You are invited to stroll through the house and imagine the struggles these early settlers faced.
