Alsea Falls Loop Guide

Vernonia Nehalem Hwy Wilson River Hwy Banks North Plains 30 47 Cornelius Pass Rd Cornell Rd Hillsboro Forest Grove 8 8 205 Henry Beaverton Hagg 43 Lake 219 217 Scoggins Valley Rd Boring Gaston River Rd Spring Hill Rd Lake Oswego Damascus Bald Peak Rd Laurel Rd Scholls Ferry Rd Tigard Clackamas 224 212 210 Tu a lati n r 219 Rive 43 Sandy 99W 205 Tualatin Rd Stafford Rd Galdstone Roy Rogers Rd Scholls-Sherwood Rd Tualatin Bald Peak Rd 211 Rd 47 ood 205 rw She Tualatin West Linn 219 Sherwood 211 Springwater Rd Mountain Rd 99E Yamhill Boones Ferry Rd Stafford Rd Oregon City 213 240 99W Wilsonville Estacada Carlton Newberg 219 Dundee Will Locust St 99E ame tte Knights Bridge Rd Ri ver Arndt Rd Canby Spangler Rd Beaver Creek Rd Mola Champoeg Rd lla R iv er Aurora 211 St. Paul French Prairie Rd r e v 99E i R Meridian Rd g n i d d 219 u P 213 211 214 Molalla 211 Woodburn Molalla Forest Rd 99W Salem 22 Dallas Commercial Rd River Rd Falls City Independence Monmouth 51 Liberty Rd Monmouth Hwy 99W er 223 Riv ette er m iv a te R ll Luckiamu i Buena Vista Rd Corvallis Rd W Buena Vista Ferry Maple Grove Rd Talbot Rd Pedee Airlie Airlie Rd Buena Vista Rd Kings Valley Maxﬁ eld Creek Rd Springhill Dr Camp Adair Rd Hoskins 20 Kings Valley HwyKings Valley Albany 223 99W ABlodgettLSEA20 FALLS LOOP Walnut Blvd Wren 34 20 Corvallis L3 L2 st 53rd Tangent Philomath A1 A2 e r v 34 R i Marys A10 Marys Peak Rd 99W A9 99E Decker Rd A3 Greenberry r Peoria Rd 34 e v i R e t t A4 e m a l l A8 i Bellfountain Rd W ▲ To Waldport A5 Alsea Bruce Rd 34 Bellfountain South Fork Rd A7 Alpine 99W Subject A6 to winter closure Monroe Alpine Rd he broad shoulders of Marys Peak, the highest point in the Oregon Coast range, form the backdrop for A1. Marys River and Red-tailed Hawk. In winter, watch Harrisburg T Natural Area for White-tailed Kite99W and Northern this loop, which takes you from the floodplains of the Harrier. Parking is limited and may be Marys and Willamette Rivers in Corvallis, south through From Hwy 99W, travel 0.8 mi W on US closed by winter flooding. Hwy 20/Hwy 34. At the light, turn L on the valley’s largest wildlife refuge where enormous flocks Brooklane Dr. Turn L at 1.0 mi onto a ACEFGO of waterfowl gather in winter. From there you’ll climb gravel lane and turn into small gravel Sponsor: AudubonJunction Society west into the Coast Range, to look for nesting American parking area where the boardwalk of Corvallis City Dipper at a scenic waterfall near the headwaters of the begins. Alsea River. After visiting two parks along the Alsea River’s This city-owned park is managed for native prairie and riparian habitats 36 route to the Pacific Ocean, you can study the unique flora along the Marys River. CheshireAn ADA- and fauna of the “sky island” atop Marys Peak. Returning accessible 0.35 mi boardwalk with E to Corvallis through Philomath, take time to see an interpretive panels affords views of O NR wet prairie and seasonal floodplain, MO innovative site where extensive native wetlands are being Y even in winter when water levels LL restored to compensate for the impacts of development. 36 are up. Nesting species include MO Loop sponsorship available Song, Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows, American Goldfinch, Lazuli Coburg 99 Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, PHOTO BY: Western Bluebird, American Kestrel, Spotted Owl 32 Camp Adair Rd Eugene 126 126 126 126 99 Springfeild Veneta 126 Boardwalks, trails, and observation blinds provide excellent viewing opportunities. The north prairie overlook provides views across a large part of the 400 ac of native wet prairie; look for White-tailed Kite, Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Western Kingbird, Northern Shrike, S Western Meadowlark, and Lincoln’s, EW TTH Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows. A M Hermit Warbler Farther SW look for Wood Duck, N PHOTO BY: OH STEVE DOWLAN Hooded Merganser, and Cinnamon Teal in ponds, and White-breasted Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Lazuli Bunting and Acorn Woodpecker in J PHOTO BY: the oaks, with an occasional Lewis’s White-tailed Kite Woodpecker. Brushy areas host leads through vineyard, grass fields, wintering Varied Thrush and Golden- A2. Willamette Park hazelnut orchards, native prairie, oak crowned Sparrow, nesting Swainson’s A5. William L. Finley From downtown Corvallis, head S on woodland, marsh, and riparian forest, Thrush and Yellow-breasted Chat, and National Wildlife Refuge Hwy 99W over Marys River Bridge and with views of an active beaver pond. resident Wrentit. Mammals include – Bruce Rd Access turn L (E) on Crystal Lake Dr. Follow Watch for Acorn Woodpecker, Western Roosevelt elk, river otter, bobcat, and From intersection of Finley Refuge Rd Crystal Lake 0.5 mi, then turn L on Bluebird and White-breasted Nuthatch Western gray squirrel. Historic home with Hwy 99W (9 mi S of Corvallis), Fischer Ln to reach boat ramp at the N in legacy oaks near the parking area, and farm structures dot the landscape, continue 2.6 mi S and turn R on Bruce end of park. Or, take Hwy 99W 1 mi Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, making a visit to the refuge a complete Rd at a modern country store, and go farther S, turn L on Goodnight Ave, and American Wigeon, and Cinnamon Teal country experience. From Nov–Mar W 0.5 mi to gravel parking area for travel 0.6 mi to reach S end of park. in the marshes, and Cooper’s Hawks most wetland trails are closed to boardwalk trail to viewing blind on Transit: CTS Bus 6 stops at Goodnight hunting in the orchards. Look for protect wintering waterfowl. Birders McFadden Marsh. and Greenmore Pl; from there walk E camas blooming in the wet prairie in must stay in cars along roads, but a Migratory waterfowl are abundant 0.25 mi on Goodnight to S end of park. spring, and monarch butterflies using boardwalk along Muddy Creek ending milkweed in summer. The trail is open throughout the refuge, but McFadden’s Willamette Park is Corvallis’ main at a viewing blind overlooking Cabell Marsh often holds the largest winter spring migration hotspot. A 0.75 during tasting room hours, which vary Marsh allows for winter wetland by season; be sure to ask for a trail flocks of Northern Pintail, Tundra mi gravel trail winds through the viewing. Upland trails are open Swan, and Cackling and Canada riparian forest with beach access to handout that describes the natural and year-round. The refuge is open from cultural history of the area. Goose, which roost and forage by the the Willamette River along the way. sunrise to sunset. Entrance is free. thousands. Goose flocks can include Another trail passes through the sports Handicapped accessible restroom Greater White-fronted, Snow, Ross’s, ACLO facilities are provided at the refuge fields and through a restored riparian Sponsor: Tyee Winery and Emperor Goose, or Brant, as area recently planted with trees. Both office. rarities. Bald Eagle and Peregrine trails continue south along the river. A4. William L. Finley ACH Falcon are often around these Willamette Park is a good site to listen National Wildlife Refuge Sponsor: U.S. Fish & Wildlife flocks; also watch for Golden Eagle for Western Screech-Owl, and to watch – Finley Rd Access Service, Willamette Valley Refuge (occasional), Red-shouldered Hawk, warbler and vireo flocks in spring Complex and Barred Owl. In spring look and migration. Black Phoebe has nested From Corvallis go S on Hwy 99W for here in recent years. An active heronry 9 mi (2 mi past Greenberry Store) and is visible across the river from the S turn R on Finley Refuge Rd (gravel). end of park. Go W 1.3 mi and turn S to enter refuge at the north prairie overlook (GPS 44° AVEFGOP 25.445’ N, 123° 18.292’ W). This road Sponsor: Audubon Society continues SW for 3.5 mi across refuge of Corvallis to Bellfountain Rd. Woodpecker Loop and other trailheads are near W end of A3. Tyee Winery road. See Site A5 for additional access From Corvallis, go S on Hwy 99W to S part of refuge. for 7 mi. At the Greenberry Store and ING This 5,000-ac refuge was established BST E grange hall, turn R on Greenberry Rd as a sanctuary for wintering Dusky O and go 2.3 mi to the Tyee Wine Cellars Canada Goose. Over 230 bird species entrance on R. have been recorded on the refuge’s This Century Farm has protected more varied habitats, which include than half of its 460 ac in the Wetland expansive wetlands, oak savanna, Reserve Program. A 1.5 mi trail grasslands, upland and riparian forest. BILL PR PHOTO BY: Sooty Grouse 33 listen for American Bittern and Common Wren, and MacGillivray’s and Wilson’s season these are joined by Hammond’s Yellowthroat. Farther W on Bruce Rd, a Warblers. American Dipper shows up in Flycatcher and Hermit Warbler. This is wide gravel trail gives seasonal access fall. Trillium are in full bloom in March one of Oregon’s best sites for Sooty to the interior of the refuge including and April. Chinook salmon migration Grouse. “Hooting” season begins in Pigeon Butte and Cabell Marsh (closed begins after the first rains in September; mid- to late-March, peaks in April, and Nov–Mar), and a hiking trail through also watch for beaver and river otter.

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