Featured Portland Area Locations
In the Deschutes National Forest, with views of the Cascades and Sparks Lake. A trail named after a photographer is likely to have some nice views! Mentioned in: Journeys
Urban wetlands, accessible from an industrial parking lot. Mentioned in: Tualatin River Watershed Birds Gallery Spring Outings 2023
A trail in Oregon's youngest lava flow (1300 years ago), a short drive from Bend. Mentioned in: Journeys
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
A beautiful and varied wildlife refuge near Olympia, Washington. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Journeys From the Archive: Nisqually NWR, February 2022
The Cape Trail goes through old growth forests to find stunning coastal views, on the Oregon coast near Tillamook. Mentioned in: Journeys
A Nature Conservancy site, with multiple habitats and diverse wildflowers and wildlife. Named for the Camas Lilies, with beautiful spring flowers, which were once a staple food for the Kalapuya people. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Camassia Nature Preserve, Spring 2023
Trails through multiple habitats, in the Tualatin River Valley. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
Beautiful garden and views of the Willamette River and Mount Hood. Mentioned in: Portland Photoshed Flora Gallery From the Archive: Fall Colors 2020 Elk Rock Garden, Fall 2023
A greenway along Fanno Creek in Tigard. Fanno Creek drains much of the area bordering southwest Portland and eastern Beaverton, before flowing into the Tualatin River to the south in Durham. Suburban and agricultural pollution were pretty bad through the 80s and 90s, but recent projects have improved things quite a bit, and there are multiple designated parks and natural areas along its path. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Tualatin River Watershed Blog: My Local Watershed (pending)
A water treatment facility in Forest Grove that converted its sewage ponds into wetlands, creating habitat for birds and other wildlife. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Tualatin River Watershed Fernhill Wetlands, Winter 2022-23 From the Archive: Fernhill Wetlands, August 2022 From the Archive: Fernhill Wetlands, December 2021
Trees and trails, in Washington Park near downtown Portland. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Portland Photoshed From the Archive: Fall Colors 2020 Hoyt Arboretum, Fall 2023
Wetland trails through a 635 acre preserve in Hillsboro. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery From the Archive: New Camera (January 2022) Tualatin River Watershed Jackson Bottom Wetlands, October 2023
Greenway Park runs along Fanno Creek in Tualatin, withs paths, playgrounds, picnic tables, and disc golf. Koll Wetland Center is an adjacent urban wetland created through a thoughtful cleanup project. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Tualatin River Watershed
Beautiful trails along Lacamas Creek featuring a dam, falls, trees, flowers, and wildlife. In the town of Camas, WA. Mentioned in: Portland Photoshed Spring Outings 2023
Beautiful falls over basalt rock, and stunning views of the Colombia Gorge. Mentioned in: Portland Photoshed
A private garden (with generous community access) near Powell Butte. Planted areas, an elevated walkway among the trees, and a riparian zone along Johnson Creek. Mentioned in: Flora Portland Photoshed Spring Outings 2023
Trails adjacent to the Willamette River, in West Linn. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
Trails (and camping) along the Clackamas River and the River Mill Dam that forms Estacada Lake. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Portland Photoshed
On the Columbia River Gorge, with spectacular spring wildflowers, and views of the river, Mt. Hood, and the Washington river shore. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Journeys Wildflowers: Memaloose, Spring 2023
River, bay, and wetlands near Manzanita Beach on the Oregon Coast. Mentioned in: Nehalem Bay, September 2023
Ghost forests and tidepools on the beach, trails into Cascade Head, access to nearby Nestucca Bay. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Journeys
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland, woodland, and prarie habitats in this wildlife sanctuary on the central Oregon Coast. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
A wildlife refuge in Portland on the east side of the Willamette River, with trails through wetlands, woodlands, and meadows. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery From the Archive: New Camera (January 2022)
A waterfall in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, in the Deschutes National Forest, near Bend, Oregon Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
A playground along Rock Creek west of downtown Portkand, with trails heading into the woods. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
A local treasure, in Washington Park. A visit in any season is an immersion in beauty, respite, and contemplation. Mentioned in: Japanese Garden Portland Photoshed From the Archive: Fall Colors 2020 From the Archive: Japanese Garden Fall Colors 2022 Cherry Blossoms on the Waterfront, 2023 Fall Colors at the Japanese Garden, 2023
A nature park on an extinct cinder cone volcano. Trails, wildlife, and mountain views. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Portland Photoshed Spring Outings 2023
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Always an exciting experience; birds and other wildlife abound. The auto loop provides great access, and you can walk from the Port of Ridgefield May through September, and from the Entrance Pavilion October through April. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Ridgefield and Steigerwald, Spring 2023 A Trip to Washington, Summer 2023 From the Archive: Ridgefield NWR June 2022 From the Archive: Home From Nisqually: Silver Lake and Ridgefield, February 2022 From the Archive: Sandhill Cranes and Ridgefield NWR, January 2022
Seaquest State Park and Silver Lake WA
Adjacent to the Mt. St. Helens Visitors Center, with views, forest trails, and a boardwalk through the wetlands. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Journeys A Trip to Washington, Summer 2023 From the Archive: Home From Nisqually: Silver Lake and Ridgefield, February 2022
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Near Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast, trails move through transitional habitats in this estuary. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
One hour drive from home, with 10 waterfalls, fascinating geology, and many miles of trails. Mentioned in: Journeys Silver Falls, October 2023
Surrounded by industrial North Portland, one of the largest protected urban wetlands in the country, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Smith and Bybee Lakes and Vanport Wetlands, October 2023
Forest trails, just a few miles from home, in Lake Oswego. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge
Recently re-opened after an extensive renovation of the levee system, the trails are still pretty rough, but there are plenty of opportunities to view wildlife and Mt. Hood. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Ridgefield and Steigerwald, Spring 2023 From the Archive: Steigerwald Lake NWR, May 2022
On the Willamette River in Downtown Portland, this stroll is great for bridges, people-watching, and in the spring, cherry blossoms. Mentioned in: Flora Portland Photoshed
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
A regular destination for walks close to home, Tryon has eight miles of hiking trails, with birds, water, and Trillium in the spring. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery
Five miles of trails through diverse habitats, at the confluence of Cedar Hill Creek and Beaverton Creek in the center of Beaverton. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Tualatin River Watershed
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
The closest to home Wildlife Refuge, with seasonal and year-round trails along the Tualatin River. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery From the Archive: New Camera (January 2022) Tualatin River Watershed Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, September 2023
Vancouver Lake and Frenchman’s Bar
A nearby wintering habitat for Sandhill Cranes. The North Trail at Vancouver Lake is a good birding walk in any season. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Sandhill Cranes, January 2023 From the Archives: Sandhill Cranes and Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, January 2022
A nearby wintering habitat for Sandhill Cranes. The North Trail at Vancouver Lake is a good birding walk in any season. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Whitaker Ponds and Vanport Wetlands, Summer 2023 Smith and Bybee Lakes and Vanport Wetlands, October 2023
Another amazing urban wetlands renovation, this site has a short trail along a section of the Columbia Slough reclaimed from industrial wastelands. Mentioned in: Birds Gallery Whitaker Ponds and Vanport Wetlands, Summer 2023 From the Archive: Whitaker Ponds and Smith & Bybee Lakes, January 2022