By editor
Phillips County, Northeast Montana
Bowdoin lies in the deep northeast of Montana, a landscape of immense horizons and subtle, undulating prairie. Established in 1936, the refuge centers on the bed of an ancient oxbow of the pre-glacial Missouri River. Today, it is a complex of saline lakes and shortgrass prairie that supports an astonishing concentration of life.
The shallow, alkaline waters of Lake Bowdoin host the largest breeding colony of American White Pelicans in Montana. In the heat of summer, the pelicans fish cooperatively, forming silent, synchronized lines to drive minnows into the shallows. The surrounding mudflats are critical stopover habitat for migrating shorebirds, while the unbroken prairie is a stronghold for declining grassland species. To walk the dry uplands here is to be surrounded by the aerial displays of the Chestnut-collared Longspur and the thin, descending song of the Sprague's Pipit—birds whose existence is inextricably tied to the native sod.
Visitor Access
The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset and charges no entry fee. A 15-mile, self-guided auto tour route circles the main wetlands, providing excellent viewing opportunities from the car. A 0.4-mile paved, accessible trail leads to a viewing blind at the Display Pond. Foot travel is prohibited in certain areas to protect nesting birds, and the East Unit is closed to walking from September through November. There is no camping on the refuge, but facilities are available in the nearby town of Malta.