Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1935 to provide breeding habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. It lies within the highly productive prairie pothole region and has relief typical of the glacial drift prairie -- relatively gentle rolling plains with numerous shallow wetland depressions. Medicine Lake NWR has been recognized by the American Bird Conservancy as one of the "Top 100 Globally Important Bird Areas in the U.S." and was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1980.

Medicine Lake NWR is located north of Culbertson, Montana. From US 2, travel north on Montana Highway 16 for 25 miles to the Refuge entrance. Turn east on North Shore Road and travel 2.3 miles over a gravel road to the headquarters.