Trails
Nature Trail
A self-guided loop around the visitor center. Hike through restored sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush uplands and past the lakeshore lined with cottonwoods. Trail guides available at the trailhead or in the visitor center during open hours.
Open Season: Open year round. Part of the trail may be closed from March 15 to August 1 to reduce disturbance to osprey nesting on the nearby nesting platform. Off-trail hiking is allowed August 1 to January 31. To protect nesting birds, please stay on trail the rest of the year.
Length: 0.5 mile loop
Location of trail: North Side Recreation Area
Surface: Natural surface
Difficulty: Easy
Centennial Trail
Learn about the history of the refuge and the reservoir on this historical interpretive trail that winds through sagebrush uplands to an observation platform overlooking ponds and wetlands. Then continues across the historic Upper Dam with views of Lake Lowell, as well as the Owyhee mountains to the south and the Boise Front mountains to the northeast.
Near the west end of the trail there is a side trail to a wildlife viewing blind.
Trail access from the west at the visitor center and from the east at the east end of the Upper Dam.
Open Season: Open year round. Off-trail hiking is allowed August 1 to January 31. To protect nesting birds, please stay on trail the rest of the year.
Length: 1.2 miles one way
Location of trail: North Side Recreation Area
Surface: Concrete from the visitor center to the west end of the Upper Dam; asphalt (some stretches in disrepair) from west to east end of the dam.
Difficulty: Easy, ADA compliant
Observation Hill Trail
Loop through sagebrush uplands to the top of a hill with a viewing platform and then along the forested edge of Lake Lowell. From the viewing platform, enjoy views of most of the Lake Lowell Unit of the Refuge, as well as the Treasure Valley and the Boise Front mountains to the north and northeast and the Owyhee mountains to the south.
Trail access from the east at the visitor center and from the north at the parking lot at Indiana and Roosevelt Avenues.
Open Season: Open year round. Off-trail hiking is allowed August 1 to January 31. To protect nesting birds, please stay on trail the rest of the year.
Length: 3.25 mile loop; 0.6 mile trail connects parking lot at Indiana and Roosevelt Avenues to loop trail.
Location of trail: North Side Recreation Area
Surface: Natural surface, two-track road
Difficulty: Some hills on the northern side of the loop. One bench along the trail and a bench on the adjacent viewing platform provide opportunities to rest and enjoy the view.
East Dike Trail
Trail with great birding opportunities that travels along wetland and forest areas to the New York Canal, the source of most of the water in Lake Lowell.
Open Season: Open year round. Off-trail hiking is allowed all year.
Length: 1.0 mile one way
Location of trail: East Side Recreation Area
Surface: Natural surface, two-track road
Difficulty: Easy
Kingfisher Trail
Trail along the lake and forested edge through sagebrush uplands. Great birding opportunities, especially on the east end of the trail. Provides shoreline fishing access.
Open Season: Open year round. Off-trail hiking is allowed all year.
Length: 3.75 mile one way
Location of trail: East Side Recreation Area
Surface: Natural surface, two-track road
Difficulty: Easy
Gotts Point Trail
Trail along the lake and forested edge through sagebrush uplands to a gate just north of Gotts Point. Provides shoreline fishing access.
Open Season: Open February 1 to September 30. To protect wintering birds, area is closed to all entry from October 1 to January 31. Off-trail hiking whenever trail is open.
Length: 0.75 mile one way
Location of trail: East Side Recreation Area
Surface: Natural surface, two-track road
Difficulty: Easy
-3.25 mile lollipot; 0.6 mile trail connects parking lot at Indiana and Roosevelt Avenues to lollipop trail.
-Trail access from the east at the visitor center and from the north at the parking lot at Indiana and Roosevelt Avenues.
-Open year round. Off-trail hiking is allowed August 1 to January 31. To protect nesting birds, please stay on trail the rest of the year.
-Natural surface, two-track road
-Some hills on the northern side of the loop. One bench along the trail and a bench on the adjacent viewing platform provide opportunities to rest and enjoy the view.