By editor
Cascade County, North of Great Falls
Despite its name, Benton Lake is not a lake at all, but a 5,000-acre glacial wetland complex on the western edge of the Great Plains. It is a highly managed system of dikes and water-control structures designed to maximize habitat for breeding and migrating birds.
The refuge is a factory for life. In a good water year, it produces tens of thousands of ducks, including Northern Pintails, Mallards, and Cinnamon Teal. The dense stands of cattail and bulrush conceal nesting Marsh Wrens and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, while the mudflats attract impressive numbers of migrating shorebirds in the late summer, including Marbled Godwits and Long-billed Dowitchers. In the winter, when the wetlands freeze solid, the refuge becomes a hunting ground for Rough-legged Hawks and the occasional Snowy Owl drifting down from the tundra.
Visitor Access
Managed by the USFWS, Benton Lake is free and open from sunrise to sunset. A comprehensive, 9-mile auto tour route traverses the dikes separating the wetland units, offering superb, close-range viewing from the vehicle. There is also a wheelchair-accessible observation blind and a short walking trail. A visitor center is located at the refuge headquarters. No camping is permitted on the refuge, but Great Falls is only twelve miles to the south.