Explore the Rich Wildlife in Red Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Near Lima

Lima is a small town situated in Beaverhead County, near the Red Rock River in the southwest part of Montana, in close proximity with the Idaho border. The population of Lima does not exceed 250 citizens. The community is named after the hometown of one of its first settlers Henry Thompson who was born in Lima, Wisconsin. The first post office started to operate in 1889.
   
Red Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge was formed in 1935 with the ambition of protecting the endangered species, the trumpeter swan. As of today, the Refuge still continues to be one of the most significant shelters for these incredible creatures throughout the whole country. Red Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge is situated at the most remote southwest region of the state of Montana. The towering Centennial Mountains provide a fantastic background to the wilderness of the area.
   
Red Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge will provide you with attractive adventures that will guarantee a perfect stay in the region. Make sure you are supplied with the appropriate equipment like warm clothes, binoculars and mountain shoes and then jump into fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, bird watching, and photography. But don't underestimate the whims of the climate when a 6,600-foot elevation is concerned.
   
Bird lovers will enjoy the Trumpeter Swan display, located at the headquarters in Lakeview. You can perceive the curious call of the trumpeter swans when night falls.     The refuge is also a home for numerous game animals, including deer, antelope, and moose, but it is the birds that wield all the power. The sanctuary is a protected area for more than 230 bird species. The best time to practice bird watching is in the beginning of the autumn when 50,000 geese and ducks and 2,000 whistling swans flock to the area, while during the spring sandhill cranes nest in the area.
    
Red Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge features two campgrounds with more close-to-nature amenities. The Upper Lake Campground is preferred by hikers and by the mountain bicyclers for its excellent conditions for wildlife viewing. The available conveniences in this campground are fire rings, picnic tables, toilets and potable spring water. The other campground, the Lower Lake Campground, is a wide grassland, an ideal place to enjoy watching the water birds. The amenities here are restricted to fire rings and toilets. Both campgrounds lack electrical power.
   
The headquarters and Upper Lake Campground offer facilities for disabled people. Two weeks is the maximum stay at both campgrounds, and the lighting of fires is restricted to the designated grates only. No taxes are charged, and no reservations can be made, but the campground is rarely filled to capacity. Dead or fallen timber can be used as firewood, since such material is not provided anywhere.
    
Red Rock Lakes provides incredible bird watching conditions. Thousands of shorebirds, ducks and geese can be observed during their migration. Centennial Valley is most densely populated with Trumpeter Swans. Gulls, American White Pelicans and terns flutter over the lakes. The uplands create welcoming shelter for raptors and passerines.
    
Red Rock Lakes is named after the red-colored rock, near Dell. The Centennial Valley received its name on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of this country, which simultaneously coincided with the first white settlers in the valley. The Centennial Valley used to be a passage, used by the local Bannock Indians linking Bighole Valley and the Yellowstone country.

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is located in the heart of the picturesque Centennial Valley, 90 miles southeast of Dillon. The refuge is spread across 42,000 acres, including grasslands and highlands, wet meadows and wetlands, coniferous forests and harsh alpine zones - all providing a natural environment from the abundant flora and fauna.