About us
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, get away from crowds, and just feel like taking it easy right now. 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, secret rockhounding spots, unique natural features, waterfalls, nature education and local history, 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 and cell reception can be sketchy out there, 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
- $10.00
3rd Annual Oregon Donkey Sanctuary Field Trip
Oregon Donkey Sanctuary, 15900 S Thayer Rd, Oregon City, OR, USDid you know donkeys are super affectionate, sensitive, and kind? Have you ever snuggled close to a soft, warm donkey and looked deep into two soulful brown eyes? Wanna brush one?
The Oregon Donkey Sanctuary is just chock-full of cuteness and opportunity in all shapes, colors, and sizes--even adorable miniatures! Rhonda and Jim Urquhart's 40 acre farm in Oregon City evolved from a satellite facility for Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, fostering and adopting out neglected and abused donkeys to new homes, to the Oregon Donkey Sanctuary in 2021. It quickly received the Oregon Humane Society’s Diamond Collar Award in 2023 and now they're running an equine therapy program.
They'll give us a guided tour where we will learn all about their operation, different donkeys and their backstories, donkey body language and communication--we'll even get to brush and pet them! If our group is large, they'll split us into two tour groups. We'll be walking on flat ground but it is a barnyard, so be prepared to enjoy dust, mud, donkey hair, dog hair, cat hair, and the occasional chicken feather.
NOTE: Donkey's are highly intelligent and keen on self-preservation with excellent personal boundaries. You can call that stubborn if you want, but they know what's what. They will choose you. Please do not feed them anything and make sure you don't have any food on your person. Remember, they are smart as a whip and have a spectacular sense of smell. To that end, please also skip the perfume/cologne today.
The Oregon Donkey Sanctuary is completely nonprofit and volunteer- and donation-driven. The impressive facility is an awe-inspiring labor of love. To preserve this vision, they ask only that you sign an online waiver beforehand and consider making a donation of your choice--you can even sign up to volunteer! They have swag and souvenirs (cash/debit/cc), so you don't have to go home with just pictures. I have some of their art hanging in my home and, as always, I will be donating half of the day's proceeds to the sanctuary.
Please arrive between 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM to check in with me (navy windbreaker) before the tour begins at 11 AM. Get on the waiting list even if it's way full; last year, everyone got in who wanted to come.
Bring $10 cash only (no Venmo), some extra money for donation, water, camera, WEATHER- and barnyard-appropriate clothing including boots for mud. Sign the electronic waiver at this link before you arrive. Restroom facilities on site. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.
35 attendees 
Sauvie Island: Rentenaar Road and Beyond
Location not specified yetThe fall migration is on! I've spotted Canadas, white pelicans, and sandhill cranes, already. Today is the last day to explore the gorgeous back roads of the Eastside Unit before they close the gate for winter. Let's make it count!
Sauvie Island is the holy land for birders, 250 separate species have been spotted in its varied habitats and much of the island has been designated a wildlife area. It's famous for waterfowl and resident raptors, but I like spotting otters.
We'll meet at the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Eastside Viewing Platform (LOCATION DIRECTIONS AT BOTTOM) and set up our scopes to see who's out on the lake. The sandhills are just coming back and the geese are gathering up in larger and larger flocks. Restroom on site.
Then, we'll drive a couple miles down the road to Rentenaar and check out all the wetlands on either side of it, then explore about 4 miles of the roads beyond to investigate Pete's Slough, McNary Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and the warbler forest. The road pops out again at NW Reeder Road, so you can visit at the beaches on the way back, if you like. Still some good blackberries left out there and I intend to eat them. Restrooms on site.
Bring your ODFW Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10) (you can pick one up on the island at the Cracker Barrel Store at 15005 NW Sauvie Island Road, it opens 6 AM), water/snacks, binoculars/spotting scope, camera, bugspray, and WEATHER appropriate clothing. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.
DIRECTIONS: From the Wapato Bridge, stay left to curve around under the bridge onto NW Gillihan Road. Follow it all the way around the right (east) side of the island for about 6.2 mi. Turn right on NW Reeder Road and go about 2.75 mi. to the gravel parking lot of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Eastside Viewing Platform on your left. Look for my deep blue Honda CRV.
4 attendees- $5.00
Full Moon Rising Over Killin Wetlands
Killin Wetlands Nature Park, 46280 NW Cedar Canyon Rd, Banks, or, USThe full Hunter's Moon will rise at 5:34 PM on what will hopefully be a clear Sunday evening in October. From Killin Wetlands Nature Park 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. out and back down paved NW Cedar Canyon Road to the west slough to photograph autumn colors, waterfowl, and nutria (and maybe an elk or otter). The fall migration is in full swing, 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 paved parking lot, set up our tripods, snuggle into our chairs and blankets, and watch for the moon to become visible over the hills around 5:55 PM at 67° azimuth.
Bring $5 cash only (no Venmo), water/snacks, headlamp/light source, binoculars/scope, camping chair with blankets, weather appropriate clothing, and all your photography gear. Restroom on site. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks. We're settin' out promptly at the start time, so arrive 15 minutes early.
7 attendees
Past events
563
