Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge — Attraction in Ridgefield

This is a beautiful and recently renovated wildlife and wetland refuge. There is a new visitors center, or part of it. The plans do include an interactive expansion for young students, when they take bus trips here. I hope to see that filled out in the next year or so. The old bridge to cross from the parking lot to the refuge was a steep up and steep down, with the grit strip tape to prevent slipping. It wasn't very effective at this. It's been over ten years since I last walked the refuge paths and about six years ago they replaced the old, steep bridge with a much nicer, concrete, gentle decline, as you curve around. There is seating at a lookout point, on the left, as you come upon the beginning of the bridges curve. There are thick, metal rods spaced so that no one can accidentally fall over either. They also added a secondary, smaller parking lot at the entrance, as well as a nice entrance gate which is closed between October and May, after the festival weekend concludes.

My friend and I were here for Birdfest and Bluegrass days, the first weekend of October every year. They provided a guided geology tour, which gave us the chance to take in a beautiful view of the landscape from adjacent, private land. We walked the old oak strewn path to the north and took our time enjoying the views at regular intervals. There is one, giant oak tree on the left, right before the loop split. There are original Portland street pavers from a local quarry, an oak which is over four hundred years old, with branches so huge the weight has caused some to completely break off and others to split half off, growing along the ground at diameters larger than many full grown city trees. There are informative boards every so often as well.

There is another path, to the south of the plank house, which loops down to a gravel path, closer to the water and around the other half of the refuge. One of these days I will get down there. They also have a drive-through tour of the refuge, which remains open during the colder months. That is a great sight to take in on cool, early mornings in the fall and warmer winter days, when the birds are more active.

You do need a Discovery pass to park at the refuge, any day other than the festival weekend. The nature available at this one site alone, makes it worth having the pass. If you revel in the lush forests, calm lakes and mountain landscapes living in the PNW gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in, get a pass and feed your soul.

I am thrilled to see they are continuing to expand the educational opportunities here. I am sad to here they are having to bring in more specialists to help them support a wider breadth of fauna as the loss of great expanses of fields and farms in the area has led to massive loss of habitat for our local wildlife. I hope people come here and learn how to be more supportive of the local wildlife in this area while living here.

Tip: there is a large rock deposited by a glacier, about ten to fifteen feet in on the right, near the baby tree at the end of the walk ramp heading towards the plank house. Deposits like this are all over the topography around here. Learning about the Missoula floods during the geography tour was also fascinating and we appreciated the time and knowledge the volunteers shared with us.

This park is a great place to take a breath, ease your soul, enjoy the birds and get away from city life just minutes from the Portland metro area. When you're done, check out the downtown Ridgefield scene. It's small but rich with...

This is one of our very favorite places to go, especially with our grandchildren. I also bring out of town guests, because it’s a wonderful location. For three dollars you get to slowly drive a loop through the refuge. If you’re in a hurry it’ll take about half an hour. But we can easily spend a couple of hours pulling over to the side and watching any wildlife.

We have seen eagles, an owl, hawks, geese, swans, blackbirds, cranes, nutria, a beaver, deer, ducks and more! One time a friend from out of town was visiting, and we went through here because it’s simply so peaceful, and to our surprise we saw an eagle hunting, swooping down to catch a duck, missing, trying again and again and again… Until finally he caught a duck and we could hear it quacking in distress as the eagle lifted it and carried it away, right past our car! It was viewing the circle of life.

When you first turn into the park, it’s a dirt/gravel road next to a dog park. You wind down the hill until you come to a bridge over a railroad track, currently being rebuilt, and after the bridge you will enter the park. Straightahead you will see a covered area that has brochures, etc. This is where there is a metal box to put your three dollars in an envelope and deposit it in the box. You need to take part of the envelope off and put it on the dash of your car. This will keep you from getting a ticket from not paying! It is possible to buy an annual pass for $15, but I believe you can only pay that via check.

After you put your payment in the metal box, usually drive off to the right and stay on the road! You are not allowed to get out of your car except next to the outhouse restrooms which are well marked. Do not go into the duck hunters area unless you are a member. Please remember to pull over to the side if you’re going to watch the wildlife, so that other cars can pass you. This is made me absolutely crazy when someone stops in the middle of the road and doesn’t realize 15 cars have now piled up behind them. I am one of the ones that is always pulling over to the side and parking, with my binoculars out! It’s a great place to take pictures as long as you stay in your car!

You must absolutely pay attention when you first go in and it tells you what time the park is closing. You MUST be back across the bridge and up the gravel/dirt road up to the main gate at the street before that time! Once the gate closes, you are trapped! If the police have to come and get the gate open, you will be...

Ridgefield NWR is a must see for all birders, photographers and wildlife lovers! Portions of the refuge are not open to the public, and some of the trails are closed seasonally. After all it is a wildlife refuge and its main purpose is to protect wildlife and give them a place to live (leave the dogs at home please)… However, because the wildlife is left mostly undisturbed it is easy to view in a beautiful natural habitat. The River “S” Unit has a drive through Auto Tour (a one-way 4.2-mile loop on graveled road) where one is easily able to view and photograph dozens of species of birds and wildlife using your car as a blind. (I have often counted 30 or more species in one visit.) This drive through area is especially wonderful for those with limited mobility as it provides a chance to see and experience wildlife from the comfort of one’s car…

During the winter months there are often hundreds of swans, ducks, geese and Sand Hill Cranes… Great Blue Herons are residents, Great Egrets, Green Herons and American Bitterns are also found in the refuge… Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawks soar overhead and there is a family of Great Horned Owls that regularly nest there… Shorebirds are plentiful during migration, and many species of songbirds raise there families there during the spring and summer. - The Friend of Ridgefield post weekly sightings. The first 4 days of this week (beginning April 10th) their list already has 86 species! (and that’s just the birds!)

I have also seen raccoons and coyotes in the refuge… Western Painted Turtles are common in the warm months… and although they really are bad for many species (they eat baby ducks, turtles and other native frogs) Bullfrogs are also common…

The auto tour route and observation blind are open year-round during daylight hours. (Closing time is clearly posted as you enter...