Hiking
Turnbull NWR has 11 miles of trails for visitors to explore and enjoy. Most of these trails are short, less than half a mile. Longer routes include the Stubblefield and Bluebird Trails. These easy strolls provide for excellent wildlife observation opportunities, including birds, porcupine, and moose.
Trails can be accessed from multiple points, including the Headquarters area or along the auto tour route. To see maps or ask a question, please visit the visitor contact station located within the Headquarters building.
30- Acre Lake Hiking Trail
30-Acre Lake Hiking Trail connects the east and north sides of the Pine Creek Auto Tour Route.
Starting from the east trailhead, northern harriers are often seen soaring above the pine trees and aspen groves. From there the trail follows the edge of 30-Acre Lake, curving through wetland habitat dotted with aspen groves before transitioning to riparian vegetation and Palouse Prairie.
The open prairie provides excellent opportunities to spot wildlife, including deer and moose. Look for footprints and scat on the trail indicating a heavy wildlife presence in the area.
There is limited parking available at both the east and north trailheads.
Trail surface: Dirt and natural surfaces
Trail Length (mi)
0.75
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
30 minutes
Blackhorse Lake Boardwalk
Blackhorse Lake Boardwalk is a great accessible trail that features benches for wildlife viewing, making it a great spot for birdwatchers of all ages. The area is home to numerous songbirds including nuthatches and red-winged blackbirds. Also worth keeping an eye out for is the California quail a non-native game bird that never ceases to delight with their curious head plumes. Birds aren’t the only highlight for this trail. Starting in spring, look for sunbathing turtles and listen for Pacific chorus and spotted frogs.
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Trail Length (mi)
0.11
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
5 minutes
Suitability
Kid friendly
Wheelchair friendly
Blackhorse Trail
The Blackhorse Trail is a double lollipop loop that traverses the wetlands and forest landscape along Blackhorse Lake, located within the auto tour route. This trail provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the natural beauty and diverse habitats of the area.
Trail Access and Amenities
Trailheads are conveniently located on both sides of the auto tour route. Each parking area is equipped with accessible vault toilets, ensuring comfort for all visitors. The western trailhead shares its parking area with the Blackhorse Lake Boardwalk and features four parking spaces, one of which is accessible.
Rest Areas and Pavilions
As you explore the trail, you will find two covered pavilions that offer rest and shade. The first pavilion is situated near the east trailhead parking area, while the second is located just a short distance from the west trailhead. These pavilions provide ideal spots to pause and enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Trail Highlights
The east loop invites you to stroll through peaceful ponderosa pine forest, offering stunning views of Blackhorse Lake to the north. Meanwhile, the west loop guides you through tranquil marsh habitats, creating excellent opportunities for observing a variety of wildlife.
Connector Segment
A recently opened connector segment links the two loops of the trail.
Trail Length (mi)
1.13
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
40 minutes
Route Type
Lollipop
Bluebird Trail
Bluebird Trail is an out-and-back trail that largely follows an old maintenance road through a Ponderosa pine forest. This is a quieter, less-frequented trail and offers potential for more intimate wildlife viewing.
Starting at the south trailhead, the route begins as a singletrack path through a seasonally wet marsh with aspen, red-osier dogwood, and cattails. The trail gradually inclines, opening to wide views of grassland habitat before veering sharply north to follow a powerline service road.
Beyond the powerline, the trail continues as a doubletrack, winding through lightly forested ponderosa pine and wetland habitats, providing ample opportunities to spot forest birds, deer and moose. The trail ends at the north trailhead.
Trail surface: Dirt and natural surfaces with sections of gravel. Please note that during spring runoff, sections of the trail may be completely submerged.
Trail Length (mi)
1.79
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
2 hours
Headquarters Trail
Headquarters Trail, though short, offers a scenic walk past riparian, forest, and wetland habitats, making it an excellent stroll for birdwatchers. The route includes a covered picnic area that provides a peaceful place for visitors to enjoy lunch while watching for wildlife.
The trail begins near the Environmental Education Building and follows the edge of Headquarters Pond, where the forest and riparian habitat meet — creating a prime spot to listen for both wetland and forest songbirds.
Further along, the trail passes several fenced restoration areas, where young aspen and dogwood plants are protected from grazing moose. It then continues past Windmill Pond, a favorite spot for ducks such as pintails and buffleheads. This pond is particularly active during spring and fall migrations.
The trail loops back to the Environmental Education Building via a short stretch of maintenance road.
Trail surface: Dirt and grass with sections of gravel
Trail Length (mi)
0.36
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
15 minutes
Route Type
Loop
Suitability
Kid friendly
Kepple Lake Lookout Trail
Kepple Lake Lookout Trail is a short walk and brief climb to a fenced ledge overlooking Kepple Lake.
Depending on the season, visitors can expect to see geese, grebes, and the occasional swan. Intrepid wildlife watchers might even spot one of the many beavers inhabiting the lake.
Trail surface: hard packed dirt and other natural surfaces
Trail Length (mi)
0.32
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
10 minutes
Kepple Peninsula Trail
Kepple Peninsula Trail is a great place to take a break, enjoy lunch, and watch for wildlife. This partially-accessible trail features several benches for resting and observing nature.
About 200 feet in, you’ll find covered pavilion — a perfect spot for a picnic. The shelter overlooks Kepple lake and is encircled by wetland songbirds.
The trail continues to an accessible bird blind overlooking the west side of the lake. From there, you can either return to the parking lot via the paved path or continue to the unpaved section of the Kepple Peninsula Trail to complete the loop through ponderosa pine forest.
Trail surface: Paved with an optional section of dirt single track.
Trail Length (mi)
0.50
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
30 minutes
Route Type
Lollipop
Suitability
Kid friendly
Wheelchair friendly
Pine Lake Connector Trail
Pine Lake Connector Trail is a short gravel path that connects the refuge headquarters to the Pine Lake Loop. For a fully paved, accessible route, park at the Pine Lake Loop trailhead instead.
Trail Length (mi)
0.25
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
5 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Pine Lake Loop Trail
Pine Lake Loop Trail is the largest accessible paved trail in the refuge, circling Middle Pine Lake. It is one of the most popular trails and features benches for resting and enjoying the view.
The lake is home to a variety of wildlife, including several species of duck, trumpeter swans, great blue herons, and beavers. Keep an eye out for lodges and other evidence of beaver activity and listen for red-winged blackbirds, whose songs permeate the lake.
To access the loop, park at the trailhead on Smith Road across from the comfort station where the paved path gently descends into the wetland habitat. The loop is also accessible from a gravel connector path that begins across from the refuge headquarters.
Trail surface: Paved, but please note that natural root growth has caused uneven surfaces in some areas.
Trail Length (mi)
1.13
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Loop
Suitability
Wheelchair friendly
Stubblefield Trail
Stubblefield Trail is the refuge’s longest trail, offering expansive views of the Palouse Prairie a unique rolling grassland known for its deep rich soil. This five-mile, lollipop-shaped route winds through forests, wetlands, and grasslands, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and a colorful display of wildflowers in spring and summer.
The trail begins at Headquarters Pond in a forested area often visited by moose. About a half mile in, it intersects with the southeast Middle Pine Lake trailhead before continuing toward the loop section. Heading east, the trail opens into vast grasslands dotted with ponderosa pines and mima mounds —small, oval-shaped hills unique to Washington that are famous for their mystery as scientists still debate how they were formed. To the northeast, hikers can take in views of Mt. Spokane.
The path then skirts Stubblefield Lake before entering a lightly forested area. Here, hikers can see scorch marks from prescribed burns, which help improve wildlife habitat and reduce wildfire risk. The trail continues past Lower Pine Lake (Cheever Lake), a prime spot for spotting nesting trumpeter swans, otters, and various duck species. Beyond the lake, the loop reconnects with the main trail.
While some sections may be muddy during spring runoff, they offer rewarding views of wetlands teeming with waterfowl before gradually drying out in summer.
Trail surface: Gravel, dirt, and natural surfaces
Trail Length (mi)
4.95
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
3 hours
Route Type
Lollipop
