Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in Spokane

Serenely beautiful and accessible enough to take my toddler for a nature walk. Incredible spot for a hike, bike tour, and family day out.

Finally, no cows, I cant say how many "National" parks I have been too that are just free ranches for entitled snowflakes.

I love coming here. I took my girlfriend and we had the nicest walk in the evening sunset. Hardly anyone else around!

Absolutely beautiful! Great trails for running. Saw tons of wildlife including 2 moose, 5 elk, a white tailed buck, and a Turkey.Will absolutely be back, this place is a treasure!

Spent a fabulous day enjoying nature. Only saw 1 moose,1 coyote and a few birds. It is hot hot hot and middle of the day. We just had poor timing.. Mom has hard time walking so clearly marked trails that were well maintained perfect for adventure for elderly or disabled. So clean. Nice to hear the wind blowing thru the trees. No worries about noise or any other polluton here. Highly recommend. They offer guided walks on the trails as well.

Our visit to Turnbull was mostly to find an easy, serene place to walk around. The beautiful natural scenery added to it, of course. Wonderfully colorful flora and fauna, small animals (ducks, chipmunksand beautiful dragon flies flitting around. Id recommend this place if you want to clear your head and get a bit of sun. Im more of an observer, but if you like photography or just taking a few snaps on your phone, Im sure it would be a great time. It wasnt too crowded with people, in fact we only saw a couple of people overall on our entire hour long walk.

Turnbull is a great place for an easy nature walk: in different seasons weve seen all sorts of birds and animals (this week we saw lots of chipmunks and so many different duck species, plus a hawk, a pelican, and many other birds flying back and forth to nesting places in the reeds and trees; in the past weve seen otters and eagles and deer, and much more). I think the paved loop path we usually walk on would work successfully for folks with mobility issues (it feels well maintained to me, and the few slopes are gentle enough to navigate with a wheelchair, etc.). While some people there are definitely serious bird watchers, I have to say its a fun place to go if youre just someone with some curiosity about birds and a desire to stroll around comfortably in a lovely environment.

We loved our visit at this refuge. The place was so peaceful, and there were so many opportunities for bird-watching. We wish we lived closer, so that we could go more often.

Great kid friendly hikes, great birds, easy to access from Spokane.

Great area to explore in good weather. There are a handful of mostly short hikes that are scattered along the driving loop.Ive seen a northern harrier (hawk), a flicker, common mallards, a flock of turkeys, and red wing blackbirds. Ive also seen chipmunks, moose, a porcupine.If you need to use a restroom, be sure to bring a mask. With the current statewide order, masks are required to enter the restrooms.Look out for ticks. I saw a couple ticks on me after my last hike.

This was one of the best hiking spots Ive seen. I used to live back in California where you would have to pay to find something half this good and its always so crowded in California but here I didnt ruin into anybody and the park is so big. I actually got to see wildlife like a porkupine which Ive never seen before and tons of different colored birds. I go here every weekend and never get bored.

Lots of great hiking trails. Lots of birds.

Rain or shine always a pleasure

What an awesome place. We saw our first moose and porcupine here! Its a drive from Yakima.....but totally worth it. Great trails and cool wildlife.

Wonderful place to visit just about any time of the year.

Our first visit. Amazing! Saw lots of birds and a very unconcerned moose. Trails are well kept and scenery is beautiful.

We make a point of coming here when in the area. We love the 5 mile drive you can take thru it and the many walking paths too. Great way to get in touch with nature. You never know what wildlife you may see

Always love a drive through Turnbull! Saw 3 moose with some rut action, it was awesome! Fall colors were also amazing!

Beautiful! Saw an Elk family and a turkey family. The road is a lot of gravel but well kept. I went on a few trails and all were easy to walk along.

One of my favorite places "in town" to go to enjoy nature. Tons of walking trails and an auto route that connects to some of the trails. Seeing wildlife has a lot of factors but it does happen, weve spotted elk, deer, moose, coyotes and tons of smaller things like rodents and birds. Multiple lakes and ponds that usually have ducks and geese, and sometimes you can see the swans. Education center has a lot to keep the kids engaged while theyre learning and usually whoevers in the bookstore can help with more general questions.

We love this fun forest of adventure so many trails plenty of wild life moose, elk, mule deer, geese, bald eagles, porcupines, squirrels. This park is a true treasure of the pacific north west. We are so lucky to live near. Even the five mile loop is fun cause its a close dirt road. Great for date nights.

A hidden gem in the dry Eastern Washington landscape.Pelicans, Coyotes and ducks in early June. Visited early am to afternoon but sadly didnt see any Moose.No fees necessary currently, according to entrance signage.Bathrooms throughout.Paved trails as well as natural.To drive loop is a one way. There are pull outs along the route, so please do not block the road for other visitors by parking on it. Plenty of hiking trails.We were not alone but we rarely passed others on the roads/trails.Lots of dog ticks - definitely check yourself twice.

Lovely wetlands, pine forests, wildflowers. Have seen moose, porcupine, deer, pelicans, swans, lots of birds. Auto tour is great, also plenty of hikes on fairly flat terrain. Clean bathrooms.

Very easy paved trail around the lake. Saw lots of different birds, chipmunks, a turtle and a small snake. Watched four swans take flight and one blue heron land. Then we took the auto trail. Didnt see much besides some birds and a turkey until the last half mile. Then we saw two young moose grazing. Made our day!!

What an great outdoor experience. We rode 16 miles from Fish Lake to Amber Lake and then back again, which goes through the heart of the Turnbull. Its a lovely, virtually flat old rail trail. Along the way we saw: osprey, turkeys, quail, deer, coyote, marmot, and many other waterfowl and shorebird (I just dont know my birds very well). The weather was lovely. The trail is well marked, and virtually, once you get off the paved section, theres nobody out there, on a Saturday, even.

Snakes! Snakes were everywhere today! We had a blast enjoying the wetland preserve! We did our share of squealing at the multitudes of baby snakes that were rustling in out of the grasses, especially as they quickly slithered off the warm asphalt walkways. We particularly enjoyed watching the waterfowl, and listening to the diverse birdsong. We saw several birds of prey. I thoroughly enjoyed the simple pleasure of just going on a meandering walk through the rustling grasses and cattails. I usually hike and today was a nice walk with girlfriends and my sons.A beautiful day in a beautiful landscape with beautiful people surrounded and filled with beautiful love. :-)Peace and contentment.GRATITUDE.I LOVE TURNBALL WILDLIFE REFUGE and I loved this day!

My favorite place to take my dog for a good adventure. Clean, beautiful, huge. Plan on making more than one trip because their is soooo much to explore.

If youre in the area, stop by here for amazing wildlife and beautiful views. So not miss this, theres trails for every level of outdoor enthusiast, even wheelchair accessible ones!

Great place to hike and see wild life: deer, moose, coyote and tons of birds. Some of the trails are paved for easier access. The terrain is very gentle: good for family with toddler and the elderly. There is also an auto route (5 miles long dirt roadThe refuge has benches and gazebos. There is a small fee to enter in summer ($3.00 on top of my headbut its free the rest of the year. The best time to see wild life is dusk and dawn. Be aware of ticks if you venture on the single track trail. Signage explains what wild life can be found at the preserve.

Great place for a walk. This is a classic spot to see some local beauty and see a lot of little birds, some snakes and the occasional moose! 10/10 would recommend if you live in the area and want to go for a walk. For outsiders, not much spectacle or attraction, but nonetheless a nice peaceful walk...also no the worst place to propose

We just moved to the area and we love the wildlife refuge! As often as we can, we enjoy driving at a crawl through the refuge on the Auto Route (5.5 miles), cameras at the ready, because the scenes are breathtaking no matter what time of day. Also, the wildlife types we have had the chance to see has been abundant and amazing. There are many available hiking trails, which we look forward to trying as soon as a knee injury is no longer an issue. We look forward to seeing the refuge in other seasons, too!

This place is a gem that I stumbled across on. I just moved to the area wanting to see moose and I was not dissapointed. We ran across 4 different moose while walking but made sure to keep our distance. It was right before dark too so if youre trying to see moose then go at sunrise or sundown. And make sure to keep your distance. Awesome, easy hiking as well. Beautiful nature

Love this place! I often have it all to myself. I go there to study the insects, but find other fun critters as well. I can easily spend 4 hours just on the ~1.5 mile Pine Lake Loop. Easy, flat, and paved.

Great little natural area and large enough that you really feel like youre away from the roads and city. We did a couple hikes and saved a couple for later, all around a mile round trip for the ones we did, and very easy (Bluebird and 30 Acre Lake). Only ran into one other person on 30 Acre Lake trail, the widest, and there was plenty of room to give each other space. Saw a ton of cool insects but thats our thing, and one very uncool insect bit one of us, a tick. So watch out, spray your shoes and check regularly. Still lots of wildflowers for August and a swan couple was in one of the lakes ❤️.

Went for birding and logged 44 species in three hours! Many great hikes are available. Pretty easy flat ground. Natural beauty abounds. Lived pretty close most of my life and regret not visiting sooner. Found one tick, so be prepared for that during tick season.

Amazing treasure! Beautiful landscape with abundant wildlife. We saw lots of geese, ducks, coyotes, and hawks. Easy, walkable trails.

First time here, we did the vehicle tour and saw a Moose 5mins in. Lots of Dragonflys a ducks, very beautiful and we will definitely be coming back later this month to have a picnic when there will be more to possibly see. Highly recommend you stop by, gift shop has some great things for both adults and kids. It closes at 4:00 and is opened only Saturdays and Sundays.

Always a great hike here. We love it. So does my service dog...she got too hot & jumped in the swampy water....Yucky dawg

Extensive trails that arent too challenging. Very quiet. Not many people in the early spring. Beautiful. Lots of wildlife.

Lovely hikes, temporarily satisfies Yellowstone cravings, and exceptionally cheap ($3/vehicle for a car). Doing the tour by car is brilliant and very inclusive for those who cannot hike.

Beautiful refuge. Roads in good condition. Visitor center and shop was disappointing service. We were there within opening hours but the person inside had the doors locked and would not open them. We plant to go back in spite of this it is a beautiful place.

Turnbull wildlife refuge has large swaths if forest and ponds. There are tons of animals to enjoy, and wildlife to observe. They have a cool little museum with interactive displays. There is also a stuffed animal exhibit in the eating area.The walking parts are easy to figure out, and well paved. You can see several animals wandering in these areas and the views are spectacular. Its a great place to enjoy.

We went here for a hike with our dogs. The water is dirty so no dogs in there. Beautiful scenery and nice quiet place to walk. We saw a moose and other wildlife. It wasnt very challenging. There are three lengths of walk you can do here. Short (around the lake 1 mile), medium (3 miles ), long (6 miles). Would count this more as a leisurely stroll.

Great place for some easy hikes with great scenery!

Great for field studies or even just a nice hike. Best time to spot wildlife is during the early morning and sometimes near sunset.

Turnbull was so beautiful!! We saw lots of birds and the scenery is so lush and green! There are some nice paths to walk on and a nice auto tour with beautiful places to stop and explore along the way. No bikes on the walking paths, but you can ride your bike on the auto tour road. It is absolutely worth the drive from Spokane to go see! I would love to go again!

This place was absolutely gorgeous, and SO well kept! The plethora of space, animals, and nature make for an amazing adventure outside of the city!

Nice place for a hike, however be careful if you take your dogs here. We only hiked two small trails and came home to find 7 ticks two of which were on us and five on our dog. Be cautious if bringing a dog and check them thoroughly.

Turnbull wildlife refuge is really a BIRD sanctuary. They have other animals too, of course, but their focus has been on birds. Turnbull has a limited area with public access. Much of the land is off limits except for biologists. The limited area has a 5 mile gravel loop road with several short hiking opportunities. Bare feet are good on most of the paths.

I have been to Turnbull many times and the scenery is breathtaking and relaxing. It is well worth the drive and $ to go to and it is only 45 minutes from Spokane.