Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center — Attraction in Sherwood

This could be a wonderful location—if you were allowed to actually do anything. It’s a nature reserve, so no pets, which makes sense (honestly, America’s track record on leash etiquette speaks for itself).

But then comes the head-scratcher: no running. This isn’t a park… it’s Grandma’s formal living room. You know, the one you weren’t even allowed to look at as a kid. Plastic-covered sofa, vacuum lines on the carpet so perfect they looked like crop circles, and a rule list longer than the Ten Commandments. Laugh too loud and suddenly Grandma appears from the shadows with a fly swatter: “Not in my house!”

Want to hike fast? Nope. Jog a trail? Forget it. Even breathing hard feels suspicious, like you’re about to get fined for “excessive exhaling.” Blink too loudly and you’ll probably be asked to leave.

And here’s the wild part—they cite 50 CFR 26.22(a) as the reason. Except… that rule doesn’t actually ban running. It simply says activities can’t interfere with conservation efforts. Unless my sneakers are scaring the moss, running isn’t a violation. It’s like Grandma making up a house rule on the spot just to keep you from touching the “good” curtains.

Meanwhile, we’re all paying for this with tax dollars. A park you can’t actually use is basically a taxpayer-funded diorama. It’s like building a public swimming pool, filling it with water, and then putting up a sign that says, “Viewing Only.” Public funds should open nature up, not rope it off like a museum exhibit.

Instead, we’ve funded Grandma’s no-fun zone, complete with a velvet rope and a big sign that says, “Don’t enjoy yourself.”

Bottom line: if your dream is to quietly shuffle slower than a mall Santa, and whisper about birds, this place is your Disneyland. But if you want to actually interact with nature? Grandma says no. And unfortunately, Grandma’s running this park with your tax dollars.

And honestly? Places like this, with rules like this, are exactly why Trump has a foothold. People see their tax dollars going to “no fun allowed” projects, and they start craving someone who’ll flip the whole...

Quite the lovely experience. Walked the seasonally open paths and enjoyed the nature. Very serene and pleasant. My husband and I, even saw a couple deer grazing in the sunshine! 🤩

Updated: The two of us went back with our sweet boy and ended up seeing five deer! Such a very special and gifted experience! Our, Heavenly Father, is Mighty! He's blessed us with such a beautiful life. It's time we went out and made this life a positive one! This moment goes in the memory book! 🙌🏼 Thank you, God, for actually allowing me to share this moment with my family. Others probably couldn't fully fathom, what it truly means or meant, to be able to embrace this life with my, Son and Husband during this trip. This is what heaven looks like.

I encourage any human that's willing and able to walk these paths, come to this wildlife reserve and allow, Our Heavenly Father, to show you what he does best. Eyes to see and ears to hear. God's out there, he'll send signs, far and wide. This trip was for the three of us, yet I get to share it with you! Revival of our human hearts and souls!

Bless everyone, seriously, from right where we are in this life! I pray we can always remember the little things you bring, even when life seems grim. I ask, we still have joy in our hearts, especially when tragedy or evil thoughts try to push us around. Life is hardcore, I chose to love instead. Forgive others for their lack of understanding who, God, truly is to us.

These photos are why my soul gets to believe in who the, Lord of Lords, says he is. It just takes some trust and believing in our safety, that we receive this small grace and the tender mercies to our souls.

We have yet to walk the other paths, here at the Tualatin Wildlife reserve, due to them being closed for the season until May. I know when we go back, after those paths open again, God, will send us back out to see more of his special wonders. Here at this truly majestic location.

I said it before and I'll say it again, "We will most...

Didn't get to go inside the visit center for long, but overall the entire refuge was well cared for. It's so nice to have a place to hike or just stroll along good paths, see birds and other wildlife closer to their natural habitat, etc. If you have them, it's great to have binoculars with you too see some of the birds better that are further out. I'll mention this mostly for awareness: please stay on the paths, off the logs in the creek, etc. We are visiting the wildlife in their homes, temporary or permanent - and need to treat them respectfully. This time that we went (early March) was also during bird mating season. They ask people to try to be quiet so they don't disturb them. As we were walking, a couple times there were a couple small groups of teens on their own. They were talking, sometimes yelling and laughing really loud. I do want kids to get out in nature and enjoy it, but I'd also like it if they learned to be respectful towards the wildlife. Ah well, I'll keep hoping and be sure mine understand it's important, and why. 😉 We'll keep going when we are able. 🙂 Ps. Maps asked me if you need to buy tickets in advance...I want to make sure everybody knows it doesn't cost anything to go there, park and hike on the paths. They also added additional parking spots in the last couple years, so there's a bit more room...