Birding the Milwaukie Riverfront Park and Elk Rock Island

The Milwaukie Riverfront Park is where the Willamette River, Johnson Creek, and Kellogg Creek meet, and the site of Oregon’s first steamboat launching in 1850. A 2012 renovation cleared out the last of its industrial past—including a mill—and added public spaces like boat ramps and walkways.

The river walk by the Willamette offers an enticing list of waterbirds like Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, with Glaucous-winged Gulls soaring above. There’s a small reedy area with various and assorted sparrows, and along the shore leads to a woodsy park where Yellow-rumped Warblers and Bewick’s Wrens are often found.

In periods of low water it’s possible to rock-hop to Elk Rock Island, a tiny, lovely dot of wilderness in the middle of the Willamette. I’ve added a half hour to this trip to scoot over there if the water is low enough and the group is feeling frisky.

Everyone is welcome to this bird walk—we especially encourage beginners to join us! I’ll have a loaner pair of binoculars if you don’t have them.

There’s a parking lot on entering the park, and we’ll meet there. I’ll have a scope.

Distance: 2 miles round trip
Trail: paved, gravel
Elevation: slight slopes of less than 5% grade
Pacing: moderate pace, frequent stops
Restrooms: porta-potties
Public Transit: TriMet Bus #70 or #34