Waterfowl at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Preserves

You'll find an unexpected range of fauna in and around Portland.

Updated Sept. 13, 2021 2 min read

Audubon Society of Portland

The 4.5 miles of maintained trails at the Audubon Society of Portland, a 143-acre wildlife nature sanctuary, take visitors through a mixed coniferous forest, streams, ponds and native vegetation, all within minutes of downtown Portland. The Audubon House features an interpretive center, nature store with products for wildlife and nature viewing as well as products from local artists.

Audubon Society of Portland Nature Sanctuary

The Audubon Society of Portland Nature Sanctuary is a great starting place for hiking Forest Park and (of course) bird-watching.

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is a 140-acre (56.7-hectare) wetland just east of the Willamette River in Sellwood and is a birdwatchers’ paradise. Many species are attracted to the marshes of Portland’s first wildlife refuge, including the city’s official bird, the great blue heron.

Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve

This 650-acre wildlife preserve west of Portland in Hillsboro, Ore., features expansive wetlands and an abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities. Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve amenities include a community center with interpretive displays and restrooms, a wheelchair-accessible wildlife-viewing platform and additional trails. Free and open from dawn to dusk.

Sauvie Island

On the outskirts of Portland in the Columbia River, Sauvie Island is a rural oasis, where visitors can pick seasonal fruits and vegetables or sample local treats from field stands and farmers’ markets. Parks, beaches and wetlands attract wildlife and nature lovers alike. Fall brings bright colors, pumpkin patches — even a corn maze to weave through.

Sauvie Island

Sauvie Island, the Manhattan-size isle is one of the largest river islands in the country just north of Portland, is where families can find an entire day’s worth of adventures with swimming, hiking, birding and local farms.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is a place to discover an ever-changing panorama of wildlife. As the seasons change, so do the wildlife viewing opportunities. Located on the Pacific Flyway, the Refuge is an important stopover where migrating waterfowl, songbirds, and shorebirds stop to rest, refuel, and raise their young.

Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area

The largest protected wetlands within a U.S. city, Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is a 205-acre waterway and haven for many animal species, and heaven for nature-seeking hikers, bikers and kayakers. Composed of two lakes (the Smith and the Bybee), this public parkland is home to beavers, black-tailed deer and even bald eagles, which can be seen from two wildlife-viewing platforms.

Outdoors, Parks & Gardens