Sand Creek WMA Information

How To Get There
Sand Creek WMA is located just north of the town of St. Anthony in southeast Idaho’s Fremont County. From Interstate 15, take exit 143 (Sage Junction) and drive 20 miles east on State Highway 33 to State Highway 20. Turn north on highway 20 and drive towards St. Anthony (15 miles). Take the St. Anthony exit, turn north and drive through St. Anthony to the Visitor’s Center. To reach the Sand Creek Ponds, travel State Highway (Business) 20 east 1.5 miles. Turn north at the Sportsman’s Access sign and follow additional signs 16 miles to the ponds.

The Chester Wetlands is located 6 miles northeast of St. Anthony along the northwest bank of the Henrys Fork of the Snake River. The headquarters of Sand Creek WMA is located in the center of the property at the end of North River Road. Chester Wetlands Segment is accessible by the public along North River Road. Motorized vehicle use is not allowed beyond the parking areas on North River Road.

General Information
In the mid-1920’s a small group of Rocky Mountain elk first spent the winter on an isolated piece of high upland desert, near the west end of Big Bend Ridge in southeast Idaho. Recognizing the importance of this elk wintering area, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) purchased a 4,700 acre parcel in 1947 and designated it the Sand Creek Elk Refuge. In years since, the wintering elk herd has grown, and with it, Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Additional land purchased with Pittman-Robertson funds, cooperative land-use agreements with other agencies and use-trade agreements with private owners have effectively expanded Sand Creek WMA to more than 32,000 acres. This includes the Chester Wetlands Segment of 1501 acres that the department acquired in 2001.

One of eastern Idaho’s most valuable sagebrush/grassland ranges, Sand Creek WMA is known region-wide for its wintering big game herds. The WMA and surrounding lands provide winter forage and shelter for one of the largest migratory, high-desert elk herds in North America and the only desert wintering moose herd in the world. While big game species are the hallmark of Sand Creek WMA, its size and accompanying habitat diversity attract a wide variety of wildlife, from the smallest mammals to waterfowl and raptors.

The Chester Wetlands Segment of Sand Creek WMA located along the northwest bank of the Henrys Fork of the Snake River about 3 miles from the main portion of the WMA provides another set of unique habitats. Most of the Chester Wetlands part is irrigated grassland pasture and is interspersed with wetlands. There are over 30 ponds, two irrigation canals and about 1.75 miles of frontage on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River creating large wetlands and riparian habitats. This valuable wetland habitat is critical to the existence of trumpeter swans, ducks and geese in the area, as well as numerous other wildlife species preferring a wetland environment. Singleton Pond on the property is a historic Trumpeter Swan nesting area. Upland habitats on the property are valuable for restoration of sharp-tailed and sage grouse.