Theres no lake here, and hasnt been for decades - one more sacrifice to central pivot irrigation drawing down the water table. It is a nice and peaceful spot for wildlife viewing though. I grew up hearing stories of how nice a lake it was back in the day.

This is an extremely peaceful place. My daughter loved the tarantulas and bird blind. Did not see many birds in our early fall visit.

I think it very quiet. Relaxing I am from Seattle dont get the peace. Like Texas peace, and quiet

No notifacations that the gate would be closed. No information on whether or not we could even walk down to the hiking trail without getting in trouble. Everything was supposed to be open to hiking. I checked the site, and the facebook page. This was the second time I wasted an hours worth of time driving there, and it was closed without updating people on the site. Never again.

Wonderful bit of solitude in the Panhandle. Its well worth the trip if you have time are visiting Palo Duro Canyon. Its about 15 minute drive from downtown Canyon and they have a short nature walk, and an 11 mile driving loop. There is some explanation of what they do on the preserve to manage it and you get a very good idea how humans have greatly impacted the surrounding land. There were many songbirds when we were there even on a bad weather day. Go, pay the $2 entry fee, and enjoy a landscape that is rapibly disappearing.

Must have been a great place. Maybe during a different season. I will try hiking next time.

I love it out here! It’s very peaceful and the wind was blowing just right! It’s a great place for a picnic! Oh! Did I mentioned that it was nice and quiet?!

Fun, quiet and beautiful everytime I go

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in Randall County in the Texas Panhandle. Its shortgrass prairies spill into marshes, woodlands, riparian habitat, croplands, and water-carved canyon walls that together form 7,664 acres (31.02 km2) of homes for migratory and year-round wildlife. The area forms a habitat for black-tailed prairie dogs and burrowing owls, among many other species. Some 175 acres (0.71 km2) of the refuge carries the designation of National Natural Landmark.

Amazingly quiet and clean place for a few nights stopover while avoiding storms to the East. We saw a large herd of deer, a coyote, and a plethora of birds. Can’t beat such a retreat for $2 (unless you have a long rig, then things might get iffy).

The official government website indicated that this was open, except for the auto tour due to the current pandemic. We drove hours out of the way only to discover the gate is closed during business hours and the place to pay was covered up in duct tape. Thanks for nothing.

I attended a workshop at Buffalo Lake on Seed Collecting put on by Friends of the High Plains. It was very informative! We drove around the the Refuge - its a beautiful area. There are picnic tables and trails. While theres no longer a lake here, its still a gathering place for wildlife of all kinds. Theres also a native garden at the Admin building.

This small National Wildlife Refuge has lots of wide open space. There are a number of short trails and a nice picnic/camping area. The night we stayed, we were the only ones camping and it only cost $2!

This is what the plains of Texas once looked like! Spend the day ... enjoy a picnic... take a nature hike... experience the true nature of the Panhandle! Add in a trip to the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum in Canyon just 15 minutes away and you have an incredible experience!

Couldnt go in unless your walking in or riding your bike. Closed to cars

Such a beautiful and peaceful place for a day hike and camping. Saw more wildlife there than most of the places I’ve been to.

Nice for bird watching. Lots of restrictions and very limited hours. No bikes no horses etc

Beautiful and peaceful. Im so glad that this treasure has been set aside for all.

Was beautiful - they had a charcoal fire ban that we werent expecting - so make sure you bring a gas-powered camp stove if you want to heat anything up. Other than that, highly recommended!

Such a good place.I sure wish they would fill it full of water again !!

Nice quiet place to go hike or camp. Entry is only $2.

Buffalo Lake is apart of a damn. The area is currently dried up and most trees are dead. There has been some dumping of cement in the area. Entry is cheap and built on the honor system. I might try to return late spring.

Clean bathrooms. Gorgeous scenery. Nice auto tour. Not busy.

Open Apr 1 to Sept 30 till 8PM (6pm balance of year)

There was a robust spider population in the restrooms! This was a lovely campground, we had a chorus of coyote song around us at sundown. We were the only ones there at the end of August.

On a whim, my mom and I decided to stop here and check it out. It had plenty of informational signs, trails and a lake with a small lookout. The informational signs were interesting and the general area was fun to visit. I would like to see this place during the summer or when migratory birds pass through. It was worth the drive in.

We went here this past Saturday10/7/2017 the restrooms were very nasty!!! And trash cans were full and trash piled by them. We have gone here several times and have also been happy how well kept the facilities were. They need to get there act together. Such a very peaceful place hated seeing it this way!!!

Love the peace and quiet. 2nd visit and grateful such a place is available for travelers. Great place to spend a night or two while traveling through.

Small canyon. Dried up trails. Nothing spectacular. Only saw insects the whole time.

If you dont like crowds this is a great place. Its typically just you and nature. You also cant beat the price.However in the picnic area it usually isnt kept up. There might be litter and the trash bins arent thrown away when they are full.But they do have some nice trails and Panhandle wildlife

Nice quiet place to get away fir the weekend.

Very scenic, bird watching and hiking trails. Dry lakebed.

This is a unique ecosystem that is worth the visit.

I enjoy slowly riding the gravel roads while looking out for horned toads, snakes, deer, and others. There are walking paths to explore too. In the wet season you may view ducks and geese in the shallow Playa lake.

Ulmer was rough but everything was great

Nothing there but prairie grass.

10+ stars!!!

Great place for drivers: flat road with just enough curves to make slipping and sliding on the gravel fun. If you want to hike, however, it is the worst NWR ever (NB: I have visited NWRs for 20 years, from New York to Florida and west to the Pacific Northwest). Rusting farm machinery scattered throughout; the lake is dried out (no fault of F&WS), but thats OK, as the real purpose of the refuge is to allow local farmers to harvest the grasses to feed their livestock. Even at $2/entry, it is not worth the price. Muleshoe NWR is far better, even if it is half closed down thanks to budget cuts caused by the current administration.

Charming!

Its very peaceful

Amazing place for riding

Nice if your passing through the area or live close by. would not plan to go here otherwise.

Best $2 you can spend between Clovis NM and Amarillo TX

Nice little park. It was a nice day trip and Ill go back

NOTE- CLOSED TILL JULY 12, 2019 FOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

Beautiful place, go there!

Beautiful little canyon makes a nice motorcycle ride.

Its great for birdwatching.

One of my favorite places close by

Beautiful and peaceful place.

The lake is dried up except for one small spot. Maybe other times there is water but I would guess its more likely to be dry so I would keep your expectations low.

Stopped by on when traveling through Amarillo area. Not much wildlife or birds, but the explanation of why the lake is now dry was interesting.

Beautiful place to visit!

Awesome hiking trails

Nice place to go

Wonderful Place to see and photograph birds

Peaceful!

Love this place

Nice and quiet

Nice little area

No animals sighted, saw a few birds. Probably because there was no water. All windmills were turned off. Disappointed

Not much to see... the Buffalo have gone!

Beautiful

Dry. Dont. Start. Fires.

Beautiful

Never seen a porcupine in the wild before, many deer.