What we’re about
This group is for nature lovers and photographers who like to soak in the moment, ID plants, birds, and wildflowers, pick up rocks, commune with waterfalls, meet wildlife, practice mindfulness, or just feel like taking it easy today. Our hikes are short and sweet and we incorporate a lot of pauses.
We take full advantage of full moons, eclipses, meteor showers, sunrises, sunsets, meteorological phenomena, low tides, king tides, bird migrations, whale migrations, salmon runs, elk ruts, wildlife viewing, peak wildflower blooms, fall colors, plant and tree ID, prime rockhounding spots, unique natural features, waterfalls, nature instruction, meditation, gardens and gardening, and weird stuff around the Portland periphery.
Membership denotes agreement to:
Be 18 years or older, leave all pets at home, be vaccinated for COVID, and refrain from smoking/vaping, alcohol, and/or any recreational drugs during our time together.
Always check your email and the event page of the hike you've signed up for to see if there are any last minute changes. Sudden weather developments are often a factor, especially in winter.
Update your RSVP if your plans change. Be advised: 3 No Shows and you will be asked to find another hiking Meetup.
Get there early. Events start at the time posted, so give yourself plenty of time to find a parking spot, pay the parking/entrance fee if there is one, gear up, use the restroom, pay your event fee, and be ready to go. Leave at least 15 minutes early for nearby events and 30 minutes early if the drive is going to be over an hour. Don't rely on GPS, a lot of our meeting spots are remote and/or unnamed, so read the directions in the event description carefully.
Read the WHOLE event description.
Let the Organizer know if you prefer not to have your photograph posted or tagged online. Privacy is important to us, so if you find your image has made it into the photo albums, contact the Organizer and it will be removed, no questions asked.
Take responsibility for your own safety, comfort, and enjoyment and understand that the Organizer is not liable for any incidents that may befall you leading up to, during, or following the event.
Understand that all proceeds go to the Organizer's expenses, including Meetup subscription, parking passes, park entrance fees, and gas. The Oregon Donkey Sanctuary event donates half the proceeds of that event to the sanctuary.
Refund Policy: If you are attending an event and it is unable to proceed as planned due to unforeseen events beyond the Organizer's control, a refund will be offered during that event. Refunds will not be issued after the conclusion of the event.
See you out there!
Upcoming events
3
- $5.00
Birding and Views: Government Cove Peninsula, Columbia River Gorge
Government cove, Government Cove, Cascade Locks, OR, USYou've probably zipped right by this spot near Cascade Locks and never knew there was a giant Zen rock garden hidden in there. Government Cove Peninsula boasts a circuitous maze of tiny trails that twist around rocky outcroppings, snake along the mighty Columbia, and serve up exceptional panoramic views of the gorge from sunny basalt promontories two hundred feet high.
It's foot traffic only and not simple to get to, so it's typically empty and quiet except for the occasional fisherman. An easy 0.5 mi. lollipop loop of paved road ventures in and then quickly back out of it but a deeper explore reveals about 2 more miles of side trails leading to nooks and crannies and magnificent overlooks.
Everything from raptors to coots, swans to mergansers, stop off here. Eagle Island at the mouth of the cove typically has its namesake perched somewhere in the trees while the eastern arm of the cove collects waterfowl of all shapes and sizes. I've seen rafts of coots 3000+-strong! Dense thickets of alder and blackberry turn pure gold in the autumn sun and host myriad migratory species in between stands of deep green fir and pine. Golden-mantled ground squirrels and bunnies are usually afoot and sometimes deer, too.
We'll meet at the front gate and hike straight to one of the lower overlooks, then double back and rise to the highest one for a total of about 1.25 miles (including the return trip to the parking area). Some sections are steep and rocky, so trekking poles are recommended. We'll sit on the rocks a bit and enjoy the view, weather permitting, then investigate birds by using the side trails. You are welcome to linger or head out early, the island is tiny and all trails lead back to the gate on a narrow isthmus. No restroom on site, but lots of cover (wink, wink) (see note below about restrooms in Wyeth).
DIRECTIONS: Most maps will send you on a long, tedious route through the town of Cascade Locks to get there from Portland. Trust me, it's much simpler to just overshoot it on the highway by a few miles, turn around at Wyeth, and take a westbound off-ramp that drops you right at the entrance.
So, from Interstate 84 east, take exit 51 into Wyeth. Hang a left under the highway and hop right back onto 84 going west towards Portland. Take the very next exit 47, turn right at the stop sign, cross the railroad tracks, and park on the gravel pull offs on either side of the road on the outside of the metal gate. Look for my deep blue Honda CRV. No parking fee.
To get back to Portland from there, reverse this process by taking 84 back to Wyeth and then the westbound ramp back to Portland. You can alternatively drive down the Frontage Road that snakes you through Cascade Locks.
RESTROOMS near Wyeth: When you get off eastbound 84 at exit 51 and come to the stop sign at the bottom of the ramp in Wyeth, turn right and then right again to get on Herman Creek Road. Go 0.25 miles and turn left into the Wyeth Trailhead of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail where there's a big paved parking lot with restrooms. Potable water on site.
Bring $10 cash, water, snacks/lunch, binoculars/spotting scope, camera, WEATHER appropriate clothing in layers, and trekking poles. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.
3 attendees - $5.00
Full Moon Rising Over Killin Wetlands
Killin Wetlands Nature Park, 46280 NW Cedar Canyon Rd, Banks, or, USThe full Cold Moon will rise at 3:54 PM on what will hopefully be a clear Thursday afternoon in December. From Killin's parking lot, you can get a pretty tasty view with a telephoto when the sunset often dresses Mt. Hood in a pink negligee for the evening--Ooo, la, la!
First, we'll walk very slowly about 1 mi. total out and back down paved NW Cedar Canyon Road to the west slough to photograph waterfowl, nutria, and maybe an elk or otter. Swans, geese, and winter species have settled in so it should be good birding. If time allows, you can explore the little 0.7 mi. trail loop through the park, itself, before it gets too dark. Then we'll return to the parking lot, set up our tripods, snuggle into our chairs and blankets, and watch for the moon to become visible over the hills around 3:15 PM at 49° azimuth.
Bring $5 cash, water, headlamp/light source, binoculars/scope, camping chair with lots of blankets, WEATHER appropriate clothing, and all your photography gear. Restroom on site. Adults only, please, and no pets, please.
2 attendees - $10.00
Christmas Ships on Sauvie Island
Wapato Access Greenway State Park, 18846 NW Sauvie Island Rd, Portland, OR, US***This event is free of charge to those who attended last year, see bottom***
Christmas Ships is a Portland tradition since 1954. If you've never seen them...Wait, what do you mean you've never seen them?
Dozens of local boaters (and the Coast Guard!) decorate their vessels, large and small, with festive lights and music and slowly parade down various routes along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers while crazed fans gather in crowds to hoot and holler at them from the shore. There's quite a bit of drunken shenanigans among the rows of floating houses.
Happily, I've found a more intimate location far from the hordes where each glowing ship slips across the glassy black surface of the Multnomah Channel in perfect peace. Leaves rustle, owls hoot, and the water laps gently on the muddy banks of Sauvie Island while an electric rainbow glides silently by. Ahhhh.
We'll gather in the Wapato Access Greenway State Park parking lot by 4:45 PM (get there early!) and carpool and caravan to a secret location about 15 minutes away. The viewing area is small, so we'll arrive early to stake out a spot. We'll have half an hour or so for birding in the dark down the country road (hopefully, owls!) before the ships appear around the bend. If the weather is dry, there is plenty of room for camping chairs. If it's raining, we'll open umbrellas. The colors are even prettier in the rain.
An added bonus to this location is that, since the road parallels the river, you can watch the ships all over again, even from atop the Sauvie Island Bridge, because you'll pass them again on the way back.
Bring $10 cash, water/hot beverage/snacks, camp chair, blankets, headlamp/light source, binoculars, umbrella, WEATHER appropriate clothing, and your photography/video gear. Wear LOTS of layers of warm clothing, way more than you think you'll need, because we'll be standing a while. I'm talking long underwear, woolen socks, fuzzy hat, the works. There's no restroom on site but, you know, darkness and shrubbery. (There is a large, handicapped accessible portapotty at the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Offices at 18330 NW Sauvie Island Rd, Portland, OR 97231 on the way to the carpool meeting spot.) You'll be settin' up the tripod on uneven gravel or squishy dirt. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.
***Due to last year's disappointing scheduling glitch with the Christmas Ships organization, I'm extending a free repeat to everyone who attended that event as well as their +1s who came along. You better believe THIS year, I'll be hounding Christmas Ships right up until the start time to make sure they're actually sailing. ***
9 attendees
Past events
537
