Field Trip to Taidnapam Park *Registration is Required*

Time: Meet at 7:00 AM for carpool, arrive at Taidnapam around 8:30 AM, leave park after lunch (around noon or so)

Trip Leader: Rachel Hudson

Registration: This trip is limited to 8 total participants in 2 cars. To make a reservation, please contact Rachel Hudson at [lightningdash09@yahoo.com](mailto:lightningdash09@yahoo.com)

About: Explore Taidnapam Park, a beautiful gem of stunning scenery, unique forest flowers, and fun birds in East Lewis County! Managed by Tacoma Power, this popular campground and park is nestled at the western base of the mountains, on the east end of Riffe Lake, about 10 miles east of Morton. We will take a very slow-paced, leisurely stroll along several of the park’s short, easy-to-walk out-and-back trails, covering roughly 2 miles or less, and eat a picnic lunch afterward. Enjoy special views of swallows as they soar below us on the pedestrian bridge over the water, listen for singing warblers, take in the stunning landscape, learn about Native American practices there, and keep your eyes peeled for orchids and other forest flowers! We will also make one stop shortly before the park entrance to check for potentially interesting birds in a large valley field.

We will watch for some of the area’s notable birds, including Ring-necked Pheasant, Violet-green and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, MacGillivray’s Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Northern Harriers, Spotted Sandpipers, a variety of woodpeckers, and many other forest, lakeside, and grassland species. Sometimes birds such as Townsend’s Solitaires, Western Kingbirds, and Northern Pygmy-Owls make an appearance here.

Meeting Place Location: We will meet at 7:00 AM at the Airport Road Park and Ride in Centralia (12 Airport Road, Centralia, WA 98531). It takes just over one hour to get to Taidnapam from Centralia. We will divide into 2 groups of 4 in 2 cars.

Directions to Meeting Place: From Olympia, take I-5 South toward Centralia, and take Exit 82 for Mellen Street. When the exit splits into 4 lanes, stay in the 2nd of the 4 lanes, on your left. Keep straight through the intersection, and follow signs for Mellen Street. The road will split into an on-ramp back onto I-5 and a right lane for Mellen Street; stay in the right lane. Then, follow the signs for Cooks Hill Road, the right lane at the next intersection. After turning right, the Park and Ride will be the first turn on your left, with the entrance also on your left.
From south of Centralia: take I-5 North toward Centralia, and take Exit 81 for Mellen Street. Keep straight through the first intersection, and at the next intersection, turn left. When you turn, stay in the far right lane to go straight through the intersection below/just past the freeway. After going straight through that intersection, the Park and Ride will be the first turn on your left, with the entrance also on your left.

Bring: Layers of clothing (mountain weather is often freezing in the morning, but hot after midday), binoculars, cameras, and any other birding/hiking gear you enjoy using. Pack a lunch so we can eat at the park before heading home, hopefully at a free picnic table. If you wish to bring a folding chair, feel free.

Trail Conditions: Very level, often narrow trails, some pavement, and some gravel or dirt. If the area receives heavy rainfall before the trip, expect some mud or shallow puddles. Occasionally, tree branches will get blown down onto the trail, so we may need to step over them.

Restrooms: There is a full restroom, sinks and all, where we will be parking in Taidnapam Park.
Photo credit: View from the Pedestrian Bridge at Taidnapam Park by Rachel Hudson