Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Lowell: Part 2

Part one of this two part series was our experience at the Visitor Center an the center and interpretive trails. 

The Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center was closing and the two year old had enough walking, so I decided to take the driving tour around Lake Lowell. There is a gas station and convenience store located off Riverside Road on the Caldwell side of the lake which served as nice place to buy a few treats, drinks, and use the potty. By the time we got to the gas station, Shira was asleep. We got what we needed and were back on the road. The Visitor Center has maps for the driving tour if you are not familiar with the area. The map will also show you the available parking spots, fishing, boating, and picnic areas.

Beautiful fall colors at Lake Lowell

One of the most beautiful sights of the Lake Lowell drive is the Lower Dam on Riverside Road and the drive around the southern portion of the lake on Lake Shore Drive. The fall colors were beautiful and this is also a terrific place to view birds of prey.

Cooper's Hawk

This drive is recommended at all times of the year. Many birds winter here and you may even see Bald Eagles (I have, usually from Jan-March). 

Down the path we go!

We found an unoccupied place to park and Beeba stayed in the car with the sleeping Shira while I took the kids on a walk to the lake. Evening was approaching, so we got to see a lot of birds coming in like geese and a whole lot of grebes! 

Watching grebes swim in groups

Rashe, Ezra, and Zippy decided to explore on their own. The soft sand was a huge temptation for digging, drawing, and road making. 

Her name in sand!

Making roads

                              

Rashe found a shell!

Of course, what would a trip be without finding local wildlife. Oh, it has to be alive? The kids found a dead raccoon. It was fascinating and freaky for them all at the same time. The girls were quite disgusted, but Ezra was curious. 

"Mom, why doesn't it have eyes?" 

"What does it look like underneath?"

"Can I touch it?"

Sure. Just use a stick. 

Raccoon macabre

The evening was approaching and it was starting to get chilly very quickly. We saw some quirky beetles that looked like and acted like dung beetles. They even burrowed into the sand, pretty cool. Spiders were also out in abundance and the webs were a lot of fun to check out. This area has a tendency to produce large cat faced spiders and I was hoping to see a few to show the kids, but we did not see them. Maybe next time!

Last explorations before dusk.

Back when I was a student at the College of Idaho, I drove to this very spot a lot as my thinking place. It is interesting to take your kids to these places because it means a lot to me on different levels. We are lucky to have such beautiful places to go for quiet, solitude, and enjoyment. For additional side trips on the scenic drive, you pass a few small fruit stands and if you want to drive a little further out of the way, you can hit up the Sunnyslope Fruit Stand or fresh pick corn stands on Karcher Road. Agriculture is in abundance here and there are plenty of families offering produce for sale in the area. 

What to bring:

Camera, binoculars, snacks, drinks, picnic, fishing gear and license, map of Lake Lowell area

The drive was a nice way to wrap up an afternoon of adventure at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. It was also fun taking my mom out with the family and exploring places she has never been either. 

Additional side trip:

Snake River Island Sector Auto Tour

The DWR also maintains a series of islands in the Snake River from Walter's Ferry to Farewell Bend. However, there is a shorter auto tour that takes you through a segment of the Snake River. Start at Walter's Ferry (south of Melba on Highway 45/Map Rock Road), following the Snake River, and back to Lake Lowell. Pick up an auto tour guide from the Visitor Center and take the 46 mile tour which allows you to view ten refuge islands along the Snake River. 

Sun setting on Lake Lowell 

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Site. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Interior, Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2012.