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  • Attractions
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    • Central Eastside
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Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More

Make a new feathered friend at the Audubon Society\'s wildlife care center. Make a new feathered friend at the Audubon Society\'s wildlife care center.
i
Make a new feathered friend at the Audubon Society’s wildlife care center.
Credit: Stu Mullenberg
Attractions

Audubon Society of Portland Nature Sanctuary

Explore 150 forested acres mere minutes from the city center.

Updated Apr. 30, 2020 1 min read Northwest Portland
Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More

Set deep in the city’s West Hills, the Audubon Society of Portland Nature Sanctuary provides a great jumping-off point for exploring Forest Park, the country’s largest urban wilderness. Whether you’re looking to break in your hiking boots, try out your bird-watching binoculars, entertain the kids or meditate under a mossy tree, this 150-acre (61 hectares) refuge offers verdant tranquility only minutes away from the city center.

Forest Park

With 70 miles of trails within Portland city limits, 5,156-acre Forest Park is a popular escape for runners, equestrians and hikers alike.

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Start your adventure at the Audubon Society headquarters off Northwest Cornell Road, where visitors can peruse the interpretive center, meet birds of prey at the wildlife care center and stock up on helpful maps and guidebooks at the nature store. Once you’ve said hello to the residents, including Julio the great horned owl and Finnegan the peregrine falcon, head outside to hike any of the three wooded sanctuaries (Uhtoff, Collins and Pittock Bird), which collectively house more than 40 bird varieties and 60 species of mammals. Along the refuge’s 4.5 miles (7 km) of interpretive trails, nature lovers can spot chickadees, thrushes, doves and other avian residents, as well as Pacific giant salamanders and Western painted turtles.

To explore further, hikers can follow Forest Park’s Upper Macleay Trail up the hill to the historic Pittock Mansion or take Wildwood Trail to Washington Park, home to popular attractions such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon Zoo and International Rose Test Garden. No matter which path you choose, you can enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s lush natural beauty and maybe even meet a few woodland creatures.

For Kids, Outdoors, Parks & Gardens

Enjoy Local Wildlife

Experience Portland's incredible flora and fauna at these outdoor destinations.

More Outdoors
Thousands of swifts soar across the sky at Chapman Elementary School.

Chapman Swift Watch

Every September, spectators gather to see the world’s largest roost of Vaux’s swifts swarm and spiral into the chimney of a Northwest Portland school.

Waterfowl at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Preserves

Experience nature not far from the city's hustle and bustle at these wildlife preserves.

Waterfowl take flight at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Bird-Watching in Portland

Catch sight of 200+ types of birds at the Portland area's dozens of prime bird watching destinations, including sanctuaries, refuges and urban parks.

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