Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, Stevensville

Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge has a visitor center, an accessible trail with benches, wildlife viewing trails, and many opportunities for birdwatching and photography in the grasslands, wetlands, and riparian forests of the Bitterroot Valley. Accessibility info and site description: At the visitor center parking lot, there is a large accessible porta-potty and two disabled parking spaces that are not marked for van accessibility. Follow the sidewalk to the left of the visitor center to find a kiosk with brochures, a beautiful view of the Bitterroot Mountains, a covered picnic area off the trail through the grass, and an outdoor amphitheater. To find Kenai Trail, continue on the path and cross the bridge. Kenai Trail is paved, three feet wide, and in mostly good shape. It is an estimated .3 mile loop with five backless benches, and goes through the grasslands. About two miles down the road from the visitor center and Kenai Trail is the Wildlife Viewing Area trails, which go through the riparian forests. Unfortunately there is extensive damage to the pavement at the entrance, which has made the disabled parking unusable and the entrance to the trails no longer wheelchair accessible. The left side of the entrance is passable, but note that it is rocky, uneven, and unstable. Once past this section, there are restrooms, an entrance sign with a map, and a covered viewing area with benches overlooking the creek. A wide paved .5 mile path leads to the Bitterroot River, and there are several trail offshoots from this main path. The Slough Trail is a .4 mile partially paved trail on the left, the Ponderosa trail is a .9 mile looped dirt trail near the entrance sign, and the .4 mile Cottonwood Trail on the right was flooded at the time of my visit. Note: there are no benches along these paths. Other areas of interest at the Refuge include the Grube Barn and the Whaley Homestead. Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge offers stunning, unobstructed views of the Bitterroot Mountains with an added bonus of wildlife viewing. It's usually very quiet and has great opportunities for photography and birdwatching. The best part is that there are trails for all ability levels. I always look forward to my visits here!

Beautiful refuge for walking on trails, viewing waterfowl, migrating birds, and a visitor center that has information and gifts. Picnic area and restrooms available.