Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: 2-4 miles or more

Putting this hike off till Tuesday the 24th due to inclement weather and possibility of freezing rain. sorry. Linda

If you would prefer to drive to the refuge:

Directions:From Interstate 5 (both north and south) take Exit 14 for Pioneer Street/ Washington 501 W toward Ridgefield. At the exit, (from the north) turn right for NW 269th/Pioneer Street.At the exit, (from the south) turn left for NW 269th/Pioneer Street.At the traffic circle, take stay on NW 269th/Pioneer Street.At the second traffic circle on NW 269th/Pioneer Street. Continue to follow Pioneer Street.At Main Street, take a right. Continue on N Main for 1 mile. Refuge Entrance will be on the left.

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge contains a mosaic of seasonal wetlands, permanent wetlands, grasslands, upland forests, riparian corridors, oak woodlands, and cropland. Thousands of ducks, geese, and swans winter on the Refuge. Winter is the best time to view large numbers of ducks, geese, swans and other migratory birds that use the area as a resting place during the long cold months. While birds are easily seen or heard at Ridgefield NWR, mammals are much more shy and fearful of human presence. The quiet and attentive visitor may be treated with a sighting of a long tailed weasel running across the path or a group of river otters playing in the water. Look out in distant fields and you might see a coyote in a distant field hunting for rodents or a white tailed deer and her fawn grazing watchfully. Invertebrates are animals without a vertebra and they make up over 90% of all the animals on this earth. It is easy then to see how important these smaller, lesser known critters are to life on earth. Frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes all find a home at Ridgefield NWR. On a warm day you might get a chance to see some of these cold blooded creatures as they come out to find warmth. Listen for the croaking of chorus frogs in the spring and observe painted turtles piled up on stumps in the water on any sunny day. Please do not handle any of these creatures as they are very sensitive to our touch.

At the Carty Unit (below), the 2-mile loop Oaks to Wetlands Trail is open every day during daylight hours. This trail crosses uneven terrain through wetland and forested habitats, offering a slightly more challenging hike. Numerous basalt outcroppings and springtime wildflowers create a beautiful backdrop for one of the Refuge’s most scenic areas.