Boyer Chute
Fort Calhoun, NE 68023-4005
Plan Your Visit
Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Located right along the Missouri River, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides a number of great opportunities to explore, discover, and learn about the plants, wildlife, and habitat of the Missouri River floodplain.
The auto tour route and extensive trail network are open year-round, and visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking, bird watching, and nature photography. The namesake chute runs alongside the auto tour, and multiple parking lots provide access for visitors to observe this Missouri River side channel or to try their luck fishing for common river fish species such as catfish and sauger. In the spring, look for morel mushrooms in the open areas of the refuge. These prized edibles can flourish in the Missouri River bottomland habitat. The refuge also offers hunting opportunities for turkey, white-tailed deer and waterfowl. To learn more about these opportunities or other activities on the refuge contact refuge staff at (712) 388-4800.
Points of Interest
- Auto Tour Route: This short drive takes you along the edge of the restored chute. Along the route are a number of parking lots providing access points to stop and bank fish along the Missouri River side channel or just to explore.
- Sauger Parking Lot: At Sauger Parking Lot is an observation platform that extends out over the chute and provides for a good scenic view of this restored waterway.
- Boyer Island Trails: Most of the trail system originated from the Main Parking Lot. A bridge from the Main Parking Lot will take visitors over the chute and onto Boyer Island. The island has an extensive network of trails along with a picnic shelter for visitors to enjoy.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at the Main Parking Lot and the North Chute Parking Lot. These are accessible during open hours of the refuge.
What to Do
If you have 15-minutes
Take a drive on the Auto Tour Route and stop at the Sauger Parking Lot. A short paved trail will take you to an observation platform that provides a scenic vista of the restored chute. Look for herons, belted kingfishers, turtles, and other wildlife along the waterway.
If you have one hour
Enjoy the Auto Tour Route and stop at the various access points to observe the habitat along Boyer Chute. From the main parking lot, take a hike on the Oriole Trail Loop. This trail, located on Boyer Island just across the bridge from the main parking lot, takes visitors through a variety of Missouri River floodplain habitats. It starts off along the edge of a mature bottomland forest before winding along the chute and then looping back through young cottonwood forests and grassland habitats. Along the trail, look for deer, turkey, and forest edge and grassland birds.
If you have half a day or more
Enjoy the full length of the auto tour route and stop off at the North Chute Parking Lot. A short walk from the parking lot takes visitors to the start of the chute where the Missouri River feeds into Boyer Chute. Fishing is popular at the north chute area as the churning waters can provide a good place to catch catfish and other river fish species. After exploring the chute, enjoy a hike on one of the longer trails on the refuge. The North Island Trail and South Island Trail are both 3.5 miles long and take visitors through the diverse Missouri River flood plain habitats. Each trail cuts across Boyer Island to the edge of the Missouri River and the Boyer Bend Backwaters. Look for eagles and waterfowl along this stretch. After a long hike, take a break and enjoy a picnic at the picnic shelter or along the banks of the chute.
Know Before You Go
When planning a trip to the refuge please be aware that there is no refuge office or visitor contact station on the refuge. Refuge kiosks and brochures can be found at the main entrance and parking lot. These are a good place to stop to get orientated to the refuge and to pick up a brochure for your visit. Boyer Chute is managed by nearby DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, and any questions regarding your visit to Boyer Chute can be answered by calling the DeSoto Visitor Center at (712) 388-4800.
When visiting the refuge, remember to wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. Bring water, food, binoculars, field guides, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and anything else that might make the outdoor experience more enjoyable. Visitors are encouraged to check status of the refuge prior to visit. Its location along the Missouri River means flooding is a frequent issue and can impact visitor access.
Remember that some recreational activities may be seasonal or have special restrictions. Limited hunting opportunities are allowed on the refuge and interested hunters should contact the refuge prior to their visit. The chute is open year-round for fishing when conditions allow. However, typically during the winter months the water level drops significantly, and it becomes too shallow for fishing.
There is no charge to visit Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is located on the west side of the Missouri River, 3 miles east of the town of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. Being eight miles north of Omaha, the refuge attracts day-use visitors from throughout the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area.
From Omaha or Blair, take Highway 75 to the southernmost street (Madison Street) within Fort Calhoun city limits. Note sign for Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. Turn east on Madison Street and proceed to stop sign at "T" intersection. Turn right onto County Road 34 and proceed approximately 3 miles to refuge main gate
Activities
More Activities
Featured Species
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature, or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love. National wildlife refuges partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners, neighbors, and residents of urban and rural communities to make a lasting difference. Find out how you can help make American lands healthier and communities stronger while doing something personally satisfying.
Services
No matter the season, there is always something visitors can enjoy at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge! Use the links below to find more general information about these different facility and management services and projects offered on the refuge.
About
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge was established to recover fish and wildlife habitat in and along the Missouri River and to restore essential wildlife habitat that became scarce after the river was altered for navigation purposes half a century ago.
Today, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides an opportunity to experience rare Missouri River floodplain habitats that have largely disappeared from the landscape. These diverse prairies, floodplain forests, wetlands, and riverine habitats provide for the needs of resident, migratory, and endangered species. Wildlife-dependent recreation and education opportunities are available to the surrounding communities.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is managed together with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, which is located just upriver. For questions regarding Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, contact the staff of DeSoto at (712) 388-4800.