desoto national wildlife refuge

Not only do you get to see wildlife, you also get to tour a ship with all its artifacts. I could return to this place many time and never regret it.

This is a nice place to take a day trip. The drive through the refuge is enjoyable and varied. The hiking trails offer a nice nature-viewing activity. We have only been here once since relocating to nearby Omaha, but we plan on returning to see what the other seasons look like at Desoto. It would be nice if authorities could transplant a moose or two here, preferably a bull and cow. This seems to be great habitat for moose and we were surprised none live here.

We came solely to see the exhibit on the Steamboat Bertrand. It was a good exhibit showing the types of cargo that the boat was carrying when it sank. There is a model of the boat as well. While I understand low level lighting is needed for some items, much of what was exhibited doesn't fit that category. It could be hard to make out details, especially of things in the background. The signage was OK. If you don't already know something about the history I don't think you'll learn much from the exhibit. The staff didn't seem too interested in helping out either.

The visitor center here is the nicest I have seen at any NWR. It is large, well designed, well placed, and is chock-a-block with interesting items. The best is the salvage from a sunken steamboat (Bertram). What a treasure trove. The viewing windows and the other exhibits rival any other.The drive around the refuge is great and the walking trails are perfectly maintained.This is a "take a detour" to see place. If you are within 100 miles, come by here. Give yourself 2 hours to see it.

Eleven adults and children drove to DeSoto Bend on Sat. The display about Steamboat Bertram is amazing. The c steamboat sank and the cargo was salvaged, cleaned and preserved for visitors. The National Wildlife Refuge is a stopover for migrating ducks and geese in the autumn.

This is a lovely place for a pleasant afternoon drive. There is lots of wildlife to see, though we didn't see much the day we went. A very pleasurable way to enjoy nature.

I grew up in Nebraska and it wasn't until this year a friend recommended we go see Desoto National Wildlife Refuge. For a nominal fee of $3 (I think) we got access to the refuge for the day.Bring a lunch, bikes, hiking shoes, fishing poles, cameras, or all of the above! We were there during the week, but it was so quiet and peaceful. We spent a few hours there but you could easily spend the entire day just enjoying your surroundings.My favorite part was learning about the steamboats that traveled to Montana via the Missouri River over 150 years ago. Many of the steamboats didn't make it, including one here at "Desoto Bend." This steamboat was recovered back in the 1960s-and many of the items it carried were recovered, too, and are displayed in the museum.My only complaint is that the forest ranger on duty was not engaging at all. There was a video that was available and it wasn't until my friend started a conversation with her that she mentioned it was there and she could turn it on for us if she wanted. She didn't follow us around or ask us if we had any questions, etc. She definitely didn't seem excited about her job. Maybe other people don't want to be followed, but I was there to learn and I would have loved for her to tell me some things that weren't mentioned or maybe explain some things I might have missed. Also, I had my two young kids with me... and I think part of ensuring the preservation of places like this are getting the youth excited so they will support these areas when they get older.

I stopped by here for a few hours the other day. The auto tour rout takes you past the Missouri River, as well as past a few small lakes. There are some hiking trails throughout the refuge as well. The visitor's center has some excellent wildlife displays, as well as a gift shop. There is also a small museum with many cargo items that were recovered from the sunken "Bertrand" steamship. Well worth a visit.

Desoto Bend is a hidden gym on Hwy 30 between Blair Nebraska and Missouri Valley, Iowa. The visitor Center and displays are very informative showcasing the wildlife and flora in the area. Snow a Geese in the spring and fall are a definite highlight, but fun can be found anytime of the year.

Visited 3/30 on a warm Sunday afternoon. Either due to Winter closures still in effect or migrations in progress a lot of the side roads were closed. But you can still find some nice trails that most everyone can handle near the lake, in a dense wood, etc. There are hides and viewing areas all around, with one really nice one that is accessible to all and even has a couple of telescopes. What is amazing to me is the damage the flood caused three years ago. You can see the high water marks and it is mind boggling to imagine that much water. A hundred years ago the Missouri River ecosystems were very used to floods, but not today. There is a really nice visitors center that is open until 4:30, and the rest of the area is open until 30 minutes prior to sunset. Well worth the visit. There is a $3.00 fee.

A great place to hike, fish, hunt mushroom and nature photography. Being a prairie enthusiast, I am always excited to see the diversity of prairie plants. I am surprised no one hikes here. There are a few good trails. I take the kids fishing here a lot and always have good luck. The visitor center and displays are fun for kids. Some educational displays for adults and children. Never too busy.

It was beautiful to see all the different ducks and geese along the waters icy edge still they seem to enjoy the day. The Museum is very interesting and we were surprised to see that they were able to recovery some many artifacts from the sinking of Bertrand steamboat . Nice day to spend in doors and still get a little outdoor enjoyment.

If you're looking to get into the wilderness for fishing, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing or photography, this is a great place to do it. It features numerals hiking trails, all of them level or nearly level, including the one closest to the visitor's center, which is paved. Many people bring their bikes and cycle around the area. Wildlife includes bald eagles, hawks, migrating birds and waterfowl, deer and turkeys. Fishing is popular, and kayaks are seen frequently during warmer months. However, be aware of the jumping Asian carp - they've been known to jump into boats or hit people when they jump out of the water.The visitor's center offers short films, displays from the Bertrand, wildlife displays and a gift shop. Bathrooms around the park are primitive outhouses, but inside the visitor's center they are modern.

Love going thru the Museum there and also to take photos. Desoto was closed for awhile when we had the flood, but have gone since and it was in the stages of regenerating itself. You could see where the water lines were on the trees and so forth.

We were recently returning to Sioux City with our Granddaughter & stopped here for a visit & to introduce her to the refuge! It was great to see her checking everything out. She was 19 months old & enjoyed going up & down the stairs & checking a lot of things out. There weren't very many people there that day, but the staff member on duty was very friendly & informative. We were curious about the road being closed into the rest of the refuge & he explained the problem. We always enjoy stopping here & enjoyed sharing it with our next generation!