DeSoto and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges

Aerial of DeSoto Refuge and surrounding areas

Image by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- Midwest Region CC BY 2.0 License

Quick Facts

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DeSoto and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges

Amenities

19 listed

Baby Changing Station, Benches/Seating, Boat Ramp, Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Toilet - Flush, Toilet - Vault/Composting

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The Boyer Chute and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuges can be found on the Missouri River floodplain, along the border of Iowa and Nebraska. The refuges serve as habitats for endangered and native species, as well as Migratory Birds during certain parts of the year.

The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge was originally named after the town of DeSoto, Nebraska, which was itself named after the DeSoto River Bend. Prosperous in the mid 19th century, the town served as a key transportation destination along the Missouri River. In the mid 20th century, the area was identified as having high potential for the development of wildlife. The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge was officially established on March 12, 1958. In the Lewis and Clark expedition, the DeSoto River Bend served as the location of the captains’ campgrounds during their first meeting with the Native Americans at Council Bluff.

The Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, named after the Boyer Chute that crosses through the middle of the Refuge, was created in 1992. The Boyer Chute had originally been blocked off in 1937 in an attempt to simplify the path for boat travel, to the detriment of the chute’s native species. The Refuge’s mission is to preserve the habitats of various wildlife and aquatic species that reside in the area.

Today, The Boyer Chute and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuges are managed jointly. The refuges provide opportunities for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, photography, education, and self-guided tours. The DeSoto Visitor Center features the Bertrand Steamboat Museum, which displays the remaining cargo found from the sunken Bertrand Steamboat of the 1860s.