The Wilson Creek area provides users with non-motorized opportunities to enjoy
the Owyhee Desert. Several trails create a variety of hiking, mountain biking,
and equestrian experiences.

The Wilson Creek area provides users with non-motorized opportunities to enjoy the Owyhee Desert. Several trails create a variety of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian experiences.

Bird's eye view of the park

Wilson Creek Travel Management Area

Remember your  OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE
RESPONSIBLY.

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### Overview

Situated along the Snake River, Celebration Park (managed by Canyon County)
was established as Idaho's only archaeological park in 1989. A walk through
the basalt deposited by the Bonneville flood reveals petroglyphs 100 to 10,000
years old. Visitors learn about the Paleolithic and Archaic lifeways and can
enjoy throwing a dart with an atlatl. Experience a walking tour of historic
Guffey Railroad Bridge and be captivated by southwest Idaho's early mining and
railroad history. A non-motorized trail along the north bank of the Snake
River provides access upstream to Halverson Lake, a small pond nestled along
the canyon wall. Other non-motorized trails lead through the Bonneville Flood
boulders scattered across Halverson Bar. These trails converge into one trail
and can be followed up stream approximately 10 miles toward Swan Falls Dam.
This trail opens to motorized use about halfway to the dam. Guffey Bridge,
located at the downstream edge of Celebration Park, provides one of the few
crossings over the Snake River. The one-time railroad bridge built in 1897 has
been restored for non-motorized use and provides access to primitive trails on
the south side of the river.

Remember your <a href="https://www.blm.gov/learn/outdoorethics" rel="nofollow"> OUTDOOR ETHICS</a> when enjoying your public lands. Please<a href="https://www.recreateresponsibly.org" rel="nofollow"> RECREATE RESPONSIBLY.</a>

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<h3>Overview</h3>

Situated along the Snake River, Celebration Park (managed by Canyon County) was established as Idaho's only archaeological park in 1989. A walk through the basalt deposited by the Bonneville flood reveals petroglyphs 100 to 10,000 years old. Visitors learn about the Paleolithic and Archaic lifeways and can enjoy throwing a dart with an atlatl. Experience a walking tour of historic Guffey Railroad Bridge and be captivated by southwest Idaho's early mining and railroad history. A non-motorized trail along the north bank of the Snake River provides access upstream to Halverson Lake, a small pond nestled along the canyon wall. Other non-motorized trails lead through the Bonneville Flood boulders scattered across Halverson Bar. These trails converge into one trail and can be followed up stream approximately 10 miles toward Swan Falls Dam. This trail opens to motorized use about halfway to the dam. Guffey Bridge, located at the downstream edge of Celebration Park, provides one of the few crossings over the Snake River. The one-time railroad bridge built in 1897 has been restored for non-motorized use and provides access to primitive trails on the south side of the river.

Celebration Park

You can see the birds of prey in their natural river canyon habitat on a
scenic float trip. South of Boise, the Snake River has cut a canyon where more
eagles, hawks, and falcons nest each spring in greater concentrations than at
any other place in North America. The Snake River Birds of Prey Area is
protected here. These are scenic trips only. There are no large rapids on this
stretch. The best time to take this float is in the spring.

You can see the birds of prey in their natural river canyon habitat on a scenic float trip. South of Boise, the Snake River has cut a canyon where more eagles, hawks, and falcons nest each spring in greater concentrations than at any other place in North America. The Snake River Birds of Prey Area is protected here. These are scenic trips only. There are no large rapids on this stretch. The best time to take this float is in the spring.

Birds of Prey Scenic Float

The Owyhee Front is a popular area offering a wide range of off-highway
vehicle (OHV) trails including single-track for OHV motorcycles and wider
trails and two-tracks for ATVs and other motorized vehicles. This trail system
including Hemingway Butte, Fossil Creek and Rabbit Creek OHV trailheads
features access to hundreds of miles of roads, moderate to difficult trails
and sand washes on steep, rocky terrain. These trailheads also provide loading
ramps, staging areas and restrooms. Cross-country travel is only allowed in
the 200 acre area immediate adjacent to the Hemingway Butte OHV Trailhead.
Otherwise, please do not travel cross-country in this area. The Murphy Travel
Management Plan has established areas where OHV is limited to designated
routes.

The Owyhee Front is a popular area offering a wide range of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails including single-track for OHV motorcycles and wider trails and two-tracks for ATVs and other motorized vehicles. This trail system including Hemingway Butte, Fossil Creek and Rabbit Creek OHV trailheads features access to hundreds of miles of roads, moderate to difficult trails and sand washes on steep, rocky terrain. These trailheads also provide loading ramps, staging areas and restrooms. Cross-country travel is only allowed in the 200 acre area immediate adjacent to the Hemingway Butte OHV Trailhead. Otherwise, please do not travel cross-country in this area. The Murphy Travel Management Plan has established areas where OHV is limited to designated routes.

Rabbit Creek OHV Trail

**Site Hours: Open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.**

Jump Creek features a surprising waterfall and lush riparian community filled
with waterbirch and red osier dogwood trees. Visitors can hike the easy -mile
Jump Creek Falls Trail, walk to the Falls Overlook or picnic near the rock
crevices and meandering stream. Swimmers can enjoy a refreshing dip at the
base of the falls. **Be careful** \- Poison ivy grows thick in some spots
along the creek and trail.

Site Hours: Open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jump Creek features a surprising waterfall and lush riparian community filled with waterbirch and red osier dogwood trees. Visitors can hike the easy -mile Jump Creek Falls Trail, walk to the Falls Overlook or picnic near the rock crevices and meandering stream. Swimmers can enjoy a refreshing dip at the base of the falls. Be careful - Poison ivy grows thick in some spots along the creek and trail.

Jump Creek

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is one of the oldest refuges in the
National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1909 to designate the
new irrigation reservoir as a refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds
and other wildlife. The refuge now serves as an urban oasis for both wildlife
and Treasure Valley residents and visitors.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has two units–-Lake Lowell and the Snake
River Islands. The Lake Lowell Unit encompasses over 10,500 acres, including
the almost 9,000-acre Lake Lowell and surrounding lands. The Snake River
Islands Unit contains over 1000 acres on 104 islands. Refuge islands are
distributed along 113 river miles from the Canyon-Ada County Line in Idaho, to
Farewell Bend in Oregon.

The Refuge protects a wide range of wildlife habitats: the open waters and
wetland edges of Lake Lowell, the sagebrush uplands around the lake and the
grasslands and riparian forests on the Snake River islands. The variety of
habitats makes the refuge an important breeding area for resident and
migratory birds, including providing one of the few nesting areas for western
and Clark’s grebes in Idaho. The refuge is also a significant resting and
wintering area for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, including
spectacular concentrations of mallards and Canada geese. Because of its value
to birds, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has been declared an Important
Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.

The refuge welcomes diverse communities to connect with nature and each other
through free educational and outdoor recreational experiences.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1909 to designate the new irrigation reservoir as a refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge now serves as an urban oasis for both wildlife and Treasure Valley residents and visitors.  Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has two units–-Lake Lowell and the Snake River Islands. The Lake Lowell Unit encompasses over 10,500 acres, including the almost 9,000-acre Lake Lowell and surrounding lands. The Snake River Islands Unit contains over 1000 acres on 104 islands. Refuge islands are distributed along 113 river miles from the Canyon-Ada County Line in Idaho, to Farewell Bend in Oregon.   The Refuge protects a wide range of wildlife habitats: the open waters and wetland edges of Lake Lowell, the sagebrush uplands around the lake and the grasslands and riparian forests on the Snake River islands. The variety of habitats makes the refuge an important breeding area for resident and migratory birds, including providing one of the few nesting areas for western and Clark’s grebes in Idaho. The refuge is also a significant resting and wintering area for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, including spectacular concentrations of mallards and Canada geese. Because of its value to birds, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has been declared an <a href="https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas" rel="nofollow">Important Bird Area</a> by the National Audubon Society. The refuge welcomes diverse communities to connect with nature and each other through free educational and outdoor recreational experiences.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Lowell is managed by both the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Fish and
Wildlife Service. Part of the Boise Project this 14.5 square mile (9,800-acre)
reservoir with 28 miles of shoreline lies within the Deer Flat National
Wildlife Refuge. Boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing are the major
recreation activities at Lake Lowell, located 5 miles southwest of Nampa. Lake
Lowell, originally called Deer Flat Reservoir, was the first storage reservoir
completed for the Boise Project, one of the earliest Reclamation projects.
Historic features include the embankment dams which are on the National
Register of Historic Places. The embankments include the headworks for four
canals. Repairs made to the dams in 1938-39 by the Civilian Conservation Corps
include rustic lava-rock parapet walls with decorative designs embedded in
them. Lake Lowell is a great birding spot with over 200 recorded avian
species. Spectacular bird concentrations occur on the lake during peak
migration periods. During state seasons, upland birds, ducks, coots, and
mourning doves may be hunted on the East Side and South Side Recreation Areas.
Available fish species include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth
bass, crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, and bullhead and channel catfish.
Season open year-round. Reservoir acre feet and total reservoir capacity and
cubic feet/second release rates for rivers below Boise & Payette River Basins
reservoirs and select river locations are updated daily and graphically
provided. Power craft permitted April 15 through October 1. Site offers boat
ramps and docks, and parking at the upper and lower dam sites and at the
visitor center. The refuge Visitor Center is open all year on Monday through
Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. For additional
information, please see the  Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge or  The Bureau
of Reclamation's information on Lake Lowell.

Lake Lowell is managed by both the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Part of the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=338" rel="nofollow">Boise Project</a> this 14.5 square mile (9,800-acre) reservoir with 28 miles of shoreline lies within the <a href="http://deerflat.fws.gov" rel="nofollow">Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge</a>. Boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing are the major recreation activities at Lake Lowell, located 5 miles southwest of Nampa. Lake Lowell, originally called Deer Flat Reservoir, was the first storage reservoir completed for the Boise Project, one of the earliest Reclamation projects. Historic features include the embankment dams which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The embankments include the headworks for four canals. Repairs made to the dams in 1938-39 by the Civilian Conservation Corps include rustic lava-rock parapet walls with decorative designs embedded in them.

Lake Lowell is a great birding spot with over 200 recorded avian species. Spectacular bird concentrations occur on the lake during peak migration periods. During state seasons, upland birds, ducks, coots, and mourning doves may be hunted on the East Side and South Side Recreation Areas. 

Available fish species include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, and bullhead and channel catfish. Season open year-round. Reservoir acre feet and total reservoir capacity and cubic feet/second release rates for rivers below <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/boipaytea.html" rel="nofollow">Boise & Payette River Basins</a> reservoirs and select river locations are updated daily and graphically provided. Power craft permitted April 15 through October 1. Site offers boat ramps and docks, and parking at the upper and lower dam sites and at the visitor center. 

The refuge Visitor Center is open all year on Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.

For additional information, please see the <a href="http://deerflat.fws.gov" rel="nofollow"> Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge</a> or <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/ramps/lowell/lowell.html" rel="nofollow"> The Bureau of Reclamation's information on Lake Lowell</a>.

Wilson Creek Travel Management Area

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Celebration Park

Birds of Prey Scenic Float

Rabbit Creek OHV Trail

Jump Creek

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Lowell