Lake Lowell is located 5 miles southwest of Nampa off Lake Avenue in Canyon County. This 10,000-acre lake has 28 miles of shoreline situated in the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge area. The lake offers outdoor recreation, boating, canoeing, fishing, wildllife viewing, historic sites, boat ramps, docks, parking, and a visitor center. Birdwatching is very popular here with over 200 recorded avian species including concentrations of upland birds, ducks, coots, and mourning doves. Fishing is also excellent with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, bullhead, and black crappie stocked. Access to the lake is free, power crafts are permitted April 15 – Oct. 1, and the islands are closed to public access from February through May to protect nesting habitat.