Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
150.00 ft (45.72 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
4.50 mi (7.24 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is located just south of downtown Portland on the east side of the Willamette River and across from Ross Island. It was named the city’s first wildlife refuge in 1988, and in 2004 it was designated the city’s first migratory bird park.

During the 1970s the area’s fate was in jeopardy. The marshland had long been separated from the Willamette by the raised rail bed that is now the Springwater Corridor; the southern portion had been a sanitary landfill; the northern portion had become a waste area for debris left from the construction of I-405; and developers contemplated using the entire area to expand the Oaks Amusement Park. After years of debate, and with a little luck, a reclamation effort spearheaded by the Audubon Society of Portland, the Sellwood-Moreland Improvement Society, and The Nature Conservancy finally convinced the city that it was a natural area worth saving.

Today, the Oaks Bottom Trail system allows you to explore this marvelously preserved wetland. It is comprised of both intertwining gravel and paved paths, and lookout platforms enable visitors enjoy the sights and sounds of the local fauna. As of 2010, 185 bird species have been documented at the refuge, including osprey, egrets, great blue herons, and numerous waterfowl.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Proximity to city. Well-maintained. Bird watching in early summer.

Cons

Lots of pedestrian and bicycle traffic along Springwater Corridor.

Trailhead Elevation

190.00 ft (57.91 m)

Features

Bird watching
Wildlife
Big vistas

Suitable for

Biking

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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