Mt Hood Loop of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail Rises from the Benson State Parks Area
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Mount Hood Loop Hood River County Chamber of Commerce O L U M B I A C R I V 6 E R Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 5 Hood 7 8 84 River 9 4 r 10 ive R Mosier d Troutdale o o H 3 Cascade Locks 2 The Dalles Portland 11 Portals Corbett 1 Lost 12 Beaverton Lake Zig Zag Ranger District 503-622-3191 Tigard San Hood River County dy Riv Mt. Hood 13 Sandy er 19 Chamber of Commerce 541-386-2000 Oregon 20 18 35 City 14 Estacada Ranger Station Estacada Estacada Zig Zag 26 503-630-6861 197 Ranger District Ranger Station Government Camp 21 16 5 17 15 Tygh 22 Pine Valley Hollow Res. 26 C 224 l ac Maupin ka 25 58 Woodburn ma 23 27 s R ive Timothy Molalla r 28 Lake 30 24 57 29 26 Silverton 0 15 Miles Salem 214 0 15 KM 46 Warm Springs 1. Larch Mountain 2. Angels Rest and Columbia Gorge National Scenic he Mt Hood Loop of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail rises from the Benson State Parks Area. From I-84, Exit 22 (Corbett); S Columbia River to the base of Mt. Hood, the highest point in Oregon, and Oregon State Parks. From I-84, east- T (uphill) 1.5 mi on Corbett Hill Road to bound Exit 28 (Bridal Veil); Angels Rest combines some of the best of the region’s birding with legendary Oregon scenery. Columbia River Historic Hwy; L for 2 trailhead near exit, Benson 2 mi E; west- The Trail traverses the Columbia River National Scenic Area which is also the mi to Larch Mountain Road; 14 mi to bound Exit 35 (Ainsworth State Park), corridor traveled by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805. Our Lewis’s Larch Mountain. 5 mi W on Historic Columbia River Hwy Most accessible Cascades Range Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker and Clark’s Grebe were named in their honor. to Benson and 7 mi to Angels Rest. site to Portland; panoramic views of Today, Osprey, Bald Eagle and waterfowl inhabit the river at Ainsworth and Viento Angels Rest is a steep and difficult climb Columbia Gorge and Cascade peaks; through varied woodland habitats to two State Parks and the Hood River Delta. On the northeast corner of the trail, tucked paved trail to top; mature conifer forest rock promontories overlooking the up against the “dry side” of Mt Hood, the Hood River Valley brims with productive and shrubby habitats; high eleva- Columbia River; birds include Ruffed fruit orchards, along with outstanding birding. Sites like Tucker and Tollbridge tion forest birds such as Hermit and and Blue Grouse, Gray Jay, and Turkey Townsend’s Warbler, Northern Pygmy- County Parks lead you along the Hood River and up the Cascade slope to Bonney Vulture. Benson has lowland riparian Owl, Steller’s and Gray Jay, Rock Wren, Butte, one of Oregon’s premiere raptor viewing locations. Higher elevation forests forest around lake with nesting Wood Evening Grosbeak, Varied Thrush, Duck, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, feature unique sites such as Little Crater Lake where Wilson’s Snipe and Spotted Townsend’s Solitaire, Blue Grouse, and and Bullock’s Oriole. Sandpiper nest, and the historic Clackamas Lake Ranger Station with its resident Band-tailed Pigeon; Ruffed Grouse and Red-breasted Sapsucker and nesting Olive-sided Flycatcher. Southwest of Mt. Rufous Hummingbird occur around parking area and shrubby habitats; Hood, the Clackamas River cuts a long, steep canyon featuring Promontory Park Sponsor: American Bird Conservancy Common Nighthawk flies above forest and Fish Creek Campgrounds. Down the western flank of the mountain, the Zig Zag on summer evenings. and Sandy Rivers lead you past Trillium Lake and through Wildwood Recreation Area; look here for Pileated Woodpecker and Band-tailed Pigeon. Sponsor: Leupold & Stevens, Inc. 5 3. Ainsworth State Park 5. Viento State Park 7. Twin Tunnels – Hood River 9. Twin Tunnels – Mosier Oregon State Parks. From I-84, Oregon State Parks. From I-84, Exit 56; Oregon State Parks. From I-84, Exit 64 City of Mosier. From I-84, Exit 69; Exit 35 (Historic Hwy/Ainsworth State 8 mi W of Hood River . (Mt. Hood Hwy/White Salmon); S on westbound turn L and cross under free- Park); W on Columbia River Historic Migrant songbirds forage in broadleaf Hwy 35 for 0.3 mi; E on Old Columbia way; eastbound turn R; L on Rock Creek Highway 1 mi. trees in spring; flowering fruit trees River Drive for 1.2 mi. Rd; less than 0.5 mi to parking area. Columbia River floodplain and attract hummingbirds; along Columbia Hood River entrance of 4-mi paved Mosier entrance of 4-mi paved trail upland mixed conifer forest with lush River look for wintering waterfowl. trail between Hood River and Mosier route between Hood River and Mosier understory; resident Winter Wren, along restored Old Columbia Highway; along restored Old Columbia Highway; Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Mark O. Hatfield Visitors Center; mixed mixed conifer forest, oak woodlands, Creeper, and Red-breasted Nuthatch; Sponsor: National Forest Foundation conifer and hardwood forest with grasslands, and basalt rock outcrops; in spring and summer Hermit Thrush, ferns, big-leaf maple, Douglas-fir, and Ash-throated Flycatcher regular near Townsend’s Warbler, and Hermit 6. Mouth of Hood River standing dead trees; nesting Olive- entrance. Warbler. City of Hood River, Port of Hood River. sided Flycatcher near entrance along From I-84, Exit 63 (Hood River City with Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Center); N 0.1 mi on 2nd Street; E 0.1 Tanager, and Brown Creeper; wintering Sponsor: Columbia Gorge National mi at T-intersection; N at stop sign Hermit Thrush and Canyon Wren. 10. Tucker County Park Scenic Area towards “Visitor Information” sign; Hood River County. From I-84, Exit W along Portway Ave for 0.5 mi; at 62 (W Hood River); S and curve E on 4. Government Cove “Oregon Visitor Information” sign and Sponsor: Hood River County Chamber Oak Street (Hwy 30 E) for 1.3 mi; at City of Cascade Locks. From I-84, entrance to Hood River Expo Center, N of Commerce light, S on 13th Street (Tucker Road) westbound Exit 47 E of Cascade Locks; on gravel road and into park; 0.3 mi to for 5.5 mi. N 0.1 mi across railroad tracks to turnaround at The Hook . 8. Mosier Waterfront Park Riparian hardwoods and shrubs, oak, entrance; eastbound Exit 44; E on Hwy Sand/gravel bar at mouth of Hood City of Mosier, Oregon Department of and mixed conifer forest along Hood 30 (Wa Na Pa Street) for 1 mi; E on River; migration stop for shorebirds and Transportation. From I-84, Exit 69; River; resident Bushtit Golden-crowned Forest Lane for 2 mi; E for 0.9 mi and concentration point for resting terns, L on Rock Creek Rd; at 500 yards R Kinglet; American Dipper, Harlequin cross I-84 overpass; bear left and yield; gulls, sea-ducks, waterfowl, Peregrine into gravel parking area; road off park- Duck, and Belted Kingfisher in or near N 0.1 mi under I-84 overpass; cross Falcon, and Bald Eagle. Downstream ing area goes under railroad overpass water. railroad tracks to entrance. from mouth of Hood River 0.3-mi, into park. Historic area with sheltered cove along “The Hook” is a land peninsula that Five miles of urban walking trails Columbia River; old rock quarry and surrounds a backwater slough of through wetland and upland habitats in Sponsor: Hood River County Cham- slough surrounded by hardwood trees; Columbia River; surrounded by cot- wet-dry transition zone; resident birds ber of Commerce hosts wintering waterfowl, migrating tonwood trees; wintering waterfowl include Great Blue Heron, Bald and songbirds and nesting Purple Martin and Bald Eagle; both sites busy during Golden Eagles, Osprey, Blue-winged 11. Tollbridge County Park and Tree Swallow in old pilings; look summer months with wind-surfers. Teal, Wood Duck, Anna’s and Calliope Hood River County. From Hwy 35, for Bald Eagle and Osprey. Hummingbird, Cliff Swallow, and 12 mi S of Hood River; W on Tollbridge Vaux’s Swift. Road for 0.5 mi. Sponsor: Hood River County Riparian forest with large conifers and Sponsor: National Forest Foundation Chamber of Commerce cottonwood trees along E Fork Hood Sponsor: National Forest Foundation River; good for spring migrant song- birds; look in river for American Dipper BIRDING TIP Each participant should have their own binoculars. Binoculars with 7 or 8 magnification and outer lenses at least 35mm diameter will help you locate birds more easily. When you see a bird, lock your eyesight onto the bird, note any features of reference near the bird, and bring your binoculars up to your eyes. PHOTO BY KEVIN SMITH BY PHOTO PHOTO BY TERRY R STEELE TERRY BY PHOTO R STEELE TERRY BY PHOTO Black-capped Chickadee Clark’s Nutcracker Black-throated Gray Warbler 6 and Common Merganser; Harlequin such as Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s migration site during September and 18. Timberline Lodge Duck also possible. Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet October; panoramic vantage point Mt Hood NF, Zig Zag RD. From migrate through river corridor. to view migrating hawks and eagles; Government Camp on Hwy 26; E for large numbers of Sharp-shinned, 0.2 mi; N for 6 mi on Timberline Road Sponsor: Hood River County Cooper’s, and Red-tailed Hawk; other to lodge. Chamber of Commerce Sponsor: American Bird Conservancy migrants include Common Raven, Rich, historic site providing only op- Clark’s Nutcracker, Yellow-rumped portunity in Cascades to drive to an 12.