Birding Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
Birding Around Las Vegas, Outside the Las Vegas Valley - Northeast
Pahranagat Valley
Upper Pahranagat Lake as seen from the access road north of the lake (view south).
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Description
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, administered by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, covers 5,380 acres along a ten-mile section
of Pahranagat Valley. The refuge includes a spring-fed riparian valley
corridor with a series of broad, shallow lakes, brushy thickets,
bulrush and cattail marshes, native grass meadows, and large cottonwood
trees, all of which are surrounded by Mojave Desert scrub. These
wetlands in the desert support a great variety of wildlife, and the
refuge is an important stopping point for waterfowl and other migratory
birds.
The refuge, located in the Pacific Flyway, was established in
1963 to provide and protect riparian habitat for migratory waterfowl
and other migratory gamebird species in this arid area. In this
respect, the refuge has been great a success, and more than 230 species
of birds have been recorded on the refuge. |
Cottonwood trees and open water at the southeast corner of Upper Pahranagat Lake (view west).
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Historically, the White River flowed through the Pahranagat
Valley, but now the riverbed generally is dry and water in the valley
comes from large, thermal springs. Water is captured on the refuge in
four main impoundments: North Marsh, Upper Pahranagat Lake, Middle
Marsh, and Lower Pahranagat Lake. Maynard Lake, a narrow lake in the
canyon at the southern edge of the refuge, occasionally has water during wet years.
Recreational opportunities on the Refuge include birding,
wildlife observation, camping, fishing, and hunting. Camping and
picnicking are permitted along the east shoreline of the Upper Lake.
Birders need to realize that this area is hunted and fished.
There are no trails in the refuge, and birding at Lower Lake and Middle
Marsh is only from the road. The access road to these areas gets little
use, but use the pullouts and watch for traffic. At North Marsh and
Upper Lake, there is good viewing from many of the campsites along the
access road. There is also a dike separating North Marsh from Upper
Lake where you can walk out onto the dike and get better views of the
lakeshore. There is a service road on the dam at the south end of Upper
Lake. The service road is a good place to walk out and view the lake,
the trees on the far side, and the marsh below the dam. |
Grassy area below Upper Pahranagat Lake (view south).
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Location
The Pahranagat Valley is located about 90 miles northeast of
Las Vegas on Highway 93 in Lincoln County.
To get to Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge from Las
Vegas, drive north on Interstate 15 to Highway 93. Turn left onto Highway 93, and
drive north for 58.2 miles to the southern boundary of the refuge at
Maynard Lake (Table 1, Site 700). Continue north past Lower Lake (61.6
miles), Middle Marsh (65.6 miles), and Upper Lake to the turnoff to
Upper Lake (69.5 miles), which is just past the lake itself (Site 701).
If you are watching the highway signs, this turnoff is 3.7 miles before
(south of) Alamo. With a 70-mph speed limit on this 2-lane road, it
takes about 1 hour to get to Upper Lake from the Interstate.There are
several viewpoints along the highway were you can safely pull off the
highway, park, and look down on the lakes. Each of the lakes has an
access road (the old highway) that parallels the main highway. Access
to Middle Marsh and Lower Lake is prohibited during some times of year. |
Middle Marsh during late summer (view south).
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Hours
Always open.
Fees
None.
Specialties
Birding is best during the spring and fall migrations when large
numbers of songbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, wadingbirds, and raptors
can be seen. Winter waterfowl birding is good too. Common ducks include
Pintail, Cinnamon and Green-wing Teal, Mallard, and Redhead.
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The dry, salty bed of Lower Pahranagat Lake during late summer (view south).
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Coots always seem to be abundant. Great Blue
Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and White-faced Ibis can be found around the lakes and in
the marshes. Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Spotted Sandpipers,
Wilson's Phalaropes, and other shorebirds are found feeding in shallow
water and on the edges of the lakes. Greater Sandhill Cranes can be
seen during spring (February and March) and fall (October and November)
migrations. Hawks are common during winter, as are Bald and Golden
Eagles. During spring and summer, the cottonwood and willow trees
provide habitat for nesting warblers, orioles, and flycatchers. Open
fields in and around the refuge attract Loggerhead Shrikes, Western
Meadowlarks, Mourning Doves, various species of blackbirds, Gambel's
quail, Greater Roadrunners, and various species of sparrows. Watch for
unusual species too, such as the Reddish Egret seen during September 2004.
Other species of wildlife are common on the refuge. Predators include
kit foxes, coyotes, and mountain lions. A variety of rodent species
inhabit the refuge. Mule deer are most abundant during winter months.
Various species of lizards are common on the refuge; watch for desert
spiny lizards, zebra-tail lizards, and western whiptails. If the number
of fishermen is any guide, there are many fish in the lake too. |
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For More Information
Visit the refuge website,
call 775.725.3417, or write the refuge manager at: Refuge Manager;
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge; Box 510; Alamo, NV 89001.
A bird
list is available online and there are copies at the refuge office
and at information kiosks throughout the refuge. |
Table 1. GPS Coordinates for Highway Locations (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S).
| Site # |
Location |
Latitude (°N) |
Longitude (°W) |
UTM Easting |
UTM Northing |
Elevation (feet) |
Verified |
| 700 |
Pahranagat NWR, Maynard Lake |
37.1916 |
115.0264 |
675178 |
4117750 |
3,130 |
Yes |
| 701 |
Pahranagat NWR, Upper Lake at Highway 95 |
37.3170 |
115.1291 |
665785 |
4131477 |
3,430 |
Yes |
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