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Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
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HABITAT:
USFWS 5,150 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands along the Columbia River.
BIRDING: Refuge is home to Sandhill Cranes mid-Oct to April; 15,000 Cackling and Canada Geese mid-Nov to mid-April; and Tundra Swans Nov-March. Resident Bald Eagles prepare nests in January. Plethora of wintering ducks includes Gadwalls, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Buffleheads, and Lesser Scaups. Green Herons remain April-Oct, Black-crowned Night-Herons and Great Egrets visit briefly late summer to early fall, unusual White-throated Sparrows winter here. Look for White-breasted Nuthatches in oaks, and Black Terns and Black-necked Stilts in wetlands.
VIEWING:
Carty Unit – Cross bridge over railroad tracks to 2-mile Oaks-to-Wetlands trail, w/ replica of Chinook plank house visited by Lewis and Clark in November 1805 where Clark wrote, “I slept very little last night for the noise kept up during the whole of the night by the swans, geese…brant (and) ducks.”
River S Unit – 4.2-mile year-round driving tour, and 1.2-mile Kiwa Trail May 1-Sept. 30. Caution: unit open to waterfowl hunting.
ACCESS: Carty Unit - From I-5, take exit 14, (Ridgefield/Battleground/Hwy 501) turn west onto NW Pioneer St/Hwy 501. Drive 2.7 miles. Turn right (north) onto N Main St in town of Ridgefield. Drive 1 mile. Turn left (west) into refuge. Park in lower area. Caution: Refuge gate self closes at 7:30 pm.
River S Unit - From I-5, take exit 14, (Ridgefield/Battleground/Hwy 501), turn west onto Pioneer St/Hwy 501. Drive 2.4 miles. Turn left (south) onto S 9th Ave/S Hillhurst Rd. Drive 0.6 mile. Turn right (south) at refuge sign onto unnamed dirt road. Drive 0.5 mile, cross river, park at restrooms. Caution: refuge gate self closes at 9 pm.
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