Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge

{{Short description|National Wildlife Refuge in Washington, US}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge

| alt_name =

| iucn_category = IV

| photo = Sandhill Cranes - Conboy Lake NWR.jpg

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Sandhill cranes on the refuge

| photo_width = 300

| map = Washington

| map_alt =

| map_width = 300

| location = Klickitat County, Washington

| nearest_town = Trout Lake, Washington

| coordinates = {{coord|45.9581777|-121.3178548|region:US-WA|notes={{cite gnis|1528428|Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge}}|display=inline, title}}

| area = {{convert|7,071.70|acre}}{{FWS area |year=2013}}

| established = {{start date|1964}}

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

| website = [http://www.fws.gov/refuge/conboy_lake/ Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge]

}}

Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains at the base of {{convert|12281|ft|m|adj=on}} Mount Adams in southern Washington state.{{cite web |url=https://www.fws.gov/refuge/conboy_lake/ |title=Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | access-date=3 March 2019}}

It encompasses {{convert|7,071.70|acre}} on the lakebeds of the historic Conboy and Camas lakes, a shallow marshy wetland area drained by early settlers. Conifer forests, grasslands, shallow wetlands, and deep water provide homes for raccoon, deer, marten, elk, coyote, muskrat, skunk, cougar, beaver, porcupine, river otter, small rodents, and 150 species of birds, as well as numerous amphibians, reptiles, and fish.{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=13522 |title=Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge Profile |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}

Bald eagle, greater sandhill crane, and the Oregon spotted frog are species of concern. Refuge visitors enjoy the scenery, hike the Willard Springs trail, and observe wildlife from the county roads that surround and cross the refuge.

Each spring, juvenile sandhill cranes, called colts, can be observed from near the refuge headquarters and from the nearby roads. When the birds are very young they are difficult to see because the adult birds try to hide their offspring from predators. Visitors are encouraged to observe from a distance and in such a way that their presence does not threaten the survival of the birds.{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/conboylake/ |title=Watching Wildlife |work=Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}