Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge — Friday, May. 22, 2026

Drove the auto tour started at around 3pm and stopped at several pullouts to wander many of the short paved trails. There are toilets at several points along the drive. We finished around 5:30 pm, only saw three small groups in passing. It was a lovely day filled with so many birds, including turkeys and swans. Highlights included a water snake gliding on the lake and an elk grazing in the meadow. A wonderful place for everyone to enjoy nature thanks to the paved paths and viewing pullouts. Don’t forget your binoculars. Beware, we did encounter ticks -- make sure to check your party after each stop.