Riparian forest, prairies, wetlands, and scores of migrating arctic birds thrive in this refuge.
Any time of year you can follow the one-mile River Trail, which crosses through a young grove of trees and first stops at an outlook at the Tualatin River to your right. Keep an eye out for myriad water creatures - salamanders, newts, frogs, turtles, river otters, and beavers love it here!
Further along the path you'll come to a trail on your left leading through the tall trees to Ridgetop Overlook, a slight incline which looks out onto the plains. Be aware of movement and keep quiet for a glimpse of the elk, bobcats, and deer sometimes spotted in this terrain.
Getting on the main path again you'll continue to the final view from the raised Wetlands Observation Deck. This is a great spot to watch the sunset as the land is so flat and in the distance you can see the layer upon layer of treetops and hills.
If you like birds, this is the place! The refuge is part of the Pacific Flyway, where birds from Canada and Alaska migrate down to California and Mexico for the winter. We came in November and saw bald eagles and hawks (as well as some grazing deer just after dusk!)
The Visitor Center is right beside the parking lot and worth a visit - interesting educational exhibit and a nice gift shop supporting the refuge. Plus, there's a big glass window on one wall with a telescope you can use to look out into the marsh.
Note that a longer wetland trail opens up May - September!
Distance from Portland: 30 minutes / 20 miles
Difficulty: Easy
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