A Trip to William L. Finley Wildlife Refuge

Located in the middle of the Willamette valley is one of the richest and varied natural areas I have been lucky enough to find. William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is located around ten miles south of Corvallis and is host to a large variety of wildlife and different habitats for the intrepid explorer. The refuge is enjoyable for the more experienced hiker and yet accessible enough for someone who wants to take a short drive through a varying landscaping. A large gravel road circles the entire refuge and pullouts are amply located throughout the refuge giving important information on the different animals, vegetation and landscapes that comprise the refuge. It comes with many different hiking trails that can take hours for the person who wants to explore every aspect of the refuge but is also great for people who want to take short strolls through a richly varied natural habitat.

The refuge begins with two distinct areas; one is the Prairie Overlook and the other is the Turtle Flats. During my trip I decided to forgo both of these areas due to time constraints. I decided to begin my hike along the .4 mile long Homer Campbell Memorial, which is located shortly after Turtle Flats. The trail is a boardwalk that meanders and winds through thickly packed riparian forest. Ash trees and big leaf maples form a thick canopy overhead, creating a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The braches hang low overhead and are covered in hanging moss that dangles from the branches of the trees, creating a unique feel to the short stroll along the boardwalk.

The rain levels are clearly indicated on the base of the trees and you can see the muddy stains on their bases from where the water swelled and fell. During the summer months the area is dried out and the ground is baked and cracked from the heat, the spring and fall months bring with it muddy swamplands. On my visit I spotted a few dragonflies darting back and forth within the area but I could not spot too many birds or other wildlife, though I could hear them in the trees overhead. The most interesting part of this walk is the plant life and the environment itself, with a distinctly unique feel that is unlike the rest of the refuge. Walking along the boardwalk I noticed what appeared to be a beaver dam blocking off the muddy creek which winds its way along the trail. I decided to wander off the trail and get a closer look at it, though I do not recommend most people to wander off the boardwalk. The ground was stiff and cracked underneath my feet but within the dried out crevasses of the mud you could easily spot the different footprints of a variety of wildlife that have visited the area. The dam appeared to be empty and I could not see any signs of beavers currently inhabiting the dam, though a wide variety of what looked to be larger rodent trails speckled the muddy ground around the dam.
The boardwalk ends at a large observational blind that overlooks Cabell Marsh;

this provides an excellent observation point in which to discreetly watch one of the most densely populated wildlife areas in the refuge. The marsh is extremely large and appears to be more of a lake than an actual marsh. One can see large Great Blue Herons dipping their bills down into the water as well as a myriad of other aviary life. During my visit I spotted a large group of white pelicans working their way in tandem across the surface of the lake, scooping the water effortlessly in their large bills. The water is densely populated with fish and you can hear and spot them leaping from the water on a fairly consistent basis. Underneath the boardwalk behind this observation blind I could eye a great deal of frogs and small tadpoles darting around in the muddy water underneath. Lavender and blackberries line the muddy water overflow in this area, fostering many small song birds as well.

From this point I decided to head left along the banks of Cabell Marsh, the trail is made out of a grass covered service road that circles the marsh. Once you have left the marsh behind you are greeted by a large grass lands that are home to swaying wheat fields and large grass rushes.

Lavender plants and other wildflowers skirt the edges of the trail. The area is serene and quiet; the only sound coming from the crickets on the side of the trail. The occasional shadow of a great winged raptor circling overhead can be seen and small songbirds that inhabit almost every region of the refuge can be seen here as well. Once past this area another small pond area opens up, here you can see dozens of
small frogs popping their heads out of the water.

I decided to strike off the trail once again in search of a picture of an elusive egret that was striking a very picturesque pose on top of a log in the middle of the marsh. As you walk along the edge of the pond you can hear the sounds of frogs leaping to safety within the sanctum of the muddy water. At every footstep I made three or four frogs would go croaking into the water and would peer out at me from the edges of the pond. Here again were a variety of dragonflies and different vegetation.

I made my way back onto the service road and followed it until the trail branched off in two different directions. One way led to Pigeon Butte and the other direction leads you to Cattail Pond and Beaver Pond. Disappointed from the empty beaver dam I encountered before I decided to strike out towards Beaver Pond specifically. This trail is lined with thick vegetation made up of large grasslands and meadows. Some of it is neatly manicured farmland and the rest is densely overgrown fields of grass and wheat. During my visit I didn’t see much wildlife or even birdlife, though I could hear the occasional rustling of life within the confines of the small wooded area that bordered one side of the trail. Large hills topped with trees make up the borders of the refuge area and this is a perfect place to take in the true majesty of the hillsides surrounding you. I stopped along the trail at one point to take a small rest and was visited by an interesting dragonfly called the Common Hawker who seemed just as curious about me as I was about it.

For about four to five minutes I watched as the little blue black and yellow stripped guy would dart in front of me, hover for a second and move a few inches farther on, then disappear and begin the same dance again. Eventually I left him behind and continued on my hike.

I came upon Cattail Pond, which lived up to its name. It’s a small pond seemingly fairly similar to the rest of the ponds on the refuge. As I approached to investigate the pond a medium sized raptor took off from a small tree near the edge of the pond. I pushed my way through the thick grass that rose over the top of my head at the edge of the pond. I snuck up on the raptor cautiously and it let me approach fairly close to it before it took off from the tree it had rested in. Aside from this encounter the pond seemed fairly typical of the rest of the refuge and I was more excited to see Beaver Pond. The distance wasn’t too long before I reached Beaver Pond, but this time the name did disappoint. Unfortunately during my visit I didn’t encounter any beavers, nor did I see any signs of beavers in the area. The pond seemed dried out and empty, filled with grass and brush like all the other ponds. At a point past this area was a trail into the woods and I thought that perhaps the actual beaver pond may be deeper in the wilderness. This trail which is called the Beaver Pond and Cattail Pond unimproved trail, is more rugged and untamed than the rest of the refuge. The trail is lined with large ferns and tall pine trees that comprise the majority of the trail. The air under the thick canopy was musty yet fresh, the smell of pine and rich earth was the most striking aspect of this hike.

This area was different than most of the rest of the refuge that I had seen and was a welcomed break from the beautiful yet monotonous landscapes I had seen up to that point. The trail itself wasn’t difficult to negotiate and was something that both beginners and seasoned hikers could appreciate. This trail didn’t really give much in the way of wildlife and the vegetation was typically green and rather ordinary to most Oregon hikes. The path broke up into a few different trails and the one that I took eventually led to what used to be a rock quarry and a large outcropping at the top of this quarry gave a pleasant overview of the land all around. You could see the farmlands and the large and varying landscape that comprises the refuge.

I chose this spot to end my hike in the refuge, though the refuge holds many more paths and trails that offer an even more varied example of wildlife and habitats. All in all I spent three hours and only saw a small portion of what the refuge had to offer. I ended my visit to William L. Finley Refuge by taking the gravel road up to the Fiecher House, a well preserved home from 1855 that gives an example of what early life in this wild area must have looked like.

Also in the area are the Cabell Hunting lodge and an overlook that provides an eagles eye view of Cabell Marsh, equipped with its own telescope that provides a close up view of the animals below free of charge.
The park is over five thousand square feet and holds a great example of Oregon wildlife and vegetation. The refuge is limited access during the winter months to allow for wildlife that calls the refuge its home during the winter. The refuge is a prime example of what the Oregon valley has to offer in the way of untrammeled nature and helps to show Oregon’s love for all things having to do with the beautiful landscapes that surround us. So if you have a few hours to burn or even a whole day, any true nature lover would enjoy a visit to William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge.

For more pictures of my visit to William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge and other locations visit me at Flickr and DeviantArt.