By editor
Sheridan County, Extreme Northeast Montana
Tucked into the glaciated plains near the North Dakota border, Medicine Lake is an oasis in a highly agricultural landscape. The refuge protects a sprawling complex of lakes, wetlands, and mixed-grass prairie that serves as a critical node on the Central Flyway.
The lake is perhaps best known for its massive breeding colonies. Thousands of American White Pelicans nest on the refuge's islands, sharing the space with Double-crested Cormorants, California Gulls, and Black-crowned Night-Herons. In the cattail marshes, the secretive American Bittern stalks frogs in the shadows, its resonant, pumping call carrying across the water at dusk. The surrounding prairie supports nesting pairs of Baird's Sparrows and Marbled Godwits, making Medicine Lake a destination where the waterbirds of the marsh and the songbirds of the high plains can be observed in a single afternoon.
Visitor Access
The refuge is free to enter and open from sunrise to sunset. A well-maintained, 14-mile auto tour route provides comprehensive access to the main lakes and wetlands, complete with observation platforms and interpretive signs. Several short walking trails branch off the auto route. The refuge headquarters is located off Highway 16, south of Plentywood. Camping is not permitted on the refuge, but options are available in nearby communities.