Just outside of Nampa off Highway 55 sits the hidden treasure of Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge and Lake Lowell. Founded in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Oregon Trail passed just north of the area, a place with many springs and popular with herds of deer and elk. Early settlers, lamenting the lack of water in the arid desert landscape, called the place Deer Flat and decided to help establish a reservoir to irrigate the area in hopes of turning it into an agricultural landscape. Dams were built to create Deer Flat Reservoir, later renamed Lake Lowell in honor of J.H. Lowell, an influential lobbyist in the building of the lake. The water attracted more animals, including numerous types of birds. In the 1970s the visitors center was built to help educate and accommodate those wishing to visit and recreate there.

        Lucky for us, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has surpassed President Roosevelt’s original hopes for the place. The Refuge is open every day of the week during daylight hours, and the best place to start your visit is at the Visitors Center, open Monday thru Friday from 8am–4pm and Saturdays from 10am–4pm. Here you can pick up refuge maps, view wildlife from the observation room, check out the various displays, and take the kids to KidSpace, where they can learn about the local creatures with hands-on activities. Reading at the Refuge, a story and craft time for preschoolers, is offered on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays each month (check the Magazine calendar for dates). The staff is happy to coordinate a brief educational program for your group if you call ahead. From the Visitors Center you can take little ones on the half- mile self-guided nature trail. Be sure to bring your camera and binoculars, as the sightseeing is fantastic. Fishing and hunting at the Refuge offer more options should you wish, but be sure to check their website for accompanying rules and regulations.

        The trip to Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is a lovely way to spend an afternoon and is a gorgeous and easy drive from anywhere in the Treasure Valley. Just don’t forget to pack your picnic lunch and blanket.

Amy Pence-Brown is a Boise writer and mother of two girls. She loves finding nature escapes so close to the city.