Welcome to the Hanford Reach National Monument-the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's first national monument and the only one within the interior United States. Protected by Presidential proclamation in 2000, the Monument is a place of sweeping vistas and stark beauty, of towering bluffs and delicate flowers. Wildlife abounds in this harsh landscape-rare is a trip along the river that doesn't produce mule deer, coyotes, bald eagles, great blue herons, or white pelicans. A large elk herd hides in the canyons, and incredibly, porcupines are a common sight. Rare plants defy the drought, wind and heat. Beautiful spring wildflower displays delight the visitor who venture into the field.
The Monument is also a reminder of our history. Plutonium reactors stand along the river, remnants of WWII and the Cold War. Plutonium from B Reactor fueled "Fat Man," the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. No longer in production, these reactors are now being dismantled, and the lands and waters cleaned.
So, whether you're interested in history, sightseeing, wildlife, hunting, fishing, or just enjoying a bit of time away from the bustle of everyday life, the Hanford Reach National Monument has something to offer you. But don't come expecting a lot of visitor facilities-they don't exist. You'll be experiencing the Monument on its own terms.
Camels?
Camels probably originated in North America. As land masses separated and climates changed, camels moved to warmer regions, eventually becoming stranded on the African continent. Fossil remains of camels and other prehistoric animals have been found on the Monument.
Wahluke Lake, White Bluffs, Columbia River Islands, Hanford Dunes, Rattlesnake Mountain and Saddle Mountain provide a rich, diverse preserve for wildlife and native plants.
Did You Know?
Bald eagles winter along the Hanford Reach, attracted by the presence of salmon in the Columbia River.
Shrikes have hooked beaks like raptors, but lack their feet lack the strong talons of a raptor. They can hold prey only with the use of cactus or barbed wire fences.
Harmless gopher snakes (bull snakes) can rattle their tail. When threatened, it will flatten its head and shake its tail, looking and sounding like a rattlesnake, forcing air over a special throat membrane for a dramatic strike.
White pelicans do not dive. They hunt in groups, pushing fish into shallow water where they can use their giant bills to dip out the fish.
Burrowing owls don't actually burrow. They nest in abandoned burrows of badgers and coyotes. Their habitat is disappearing as cities develop and grow, and volunteers build artificial burrows in local shrub areas to provide essential nesting areas.
Portions of the Wahluke Unit and the Columbia River are part of an emergency planning zone for the Hanford Site. In the event of a siren, tune a radio to the Emergency Broadcast Station (KONA 610 AM or 105.3 FM) or marine band radio to channel 22.
Year-round Activities
- White Bluffs Viewpoint
- Boating
- Picnics (Wahluke Unit)
- Hiking (Wahluke Unit)
- Bicycling (Wahluke Unit)
- Observation and Photography (Wahluke Unit)
Seasonal Activities
- Fishing (designated areas)
- Hunting (designated areas)
Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
64 Maple Street
Burbank, WA 99323
E-mail: hanfordreach@fws.gov
Phone Number: (509) 546-8300
Website: http://www.fws.gov/hanfordreach
Resource Library: http://www.fws.gov/digitalmedia/