Wildlife Refuge

The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is located a few miles southwest of town. It’s one of only a handful of urban wildlife refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1992 the Federal government and volunteers have been working to turn the Refuge back to a more natural state within the floodplain of the Tualatin River Basin.

Great Blue Heron

Indian Plum (first wildflower spotted in 2024)

We took advantage of a cool and somewhat cloudy day in February to hike the Refuge’s out and back trail. A longer perimeter trail opens seasonally on May 1st.

We enjoyed the birds, wildflowers and the oak tree-dominated wetlands. It is always a nice place to visit.

Geese on the fly

Flowers in bloom

Coots

Tualatin River

Great Blue Heron looking for a snack

Pond along the trail

Geese taking a break