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Quiet seclusion
BASKETT SLOUGH OFFERS PEACEFUL TIME AWAY
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When you first arrive at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and step out of your car, the first thing you notice is how quiet it is. A quiet and sense of calm stretching along the three-mile trail system which winds through the 2,492 acres of the refuge.
Possibly this is because the refuge does not allow dogs, or activities like running, biking, hunting or fishing. Or it could be the fact that this place, established originally in 1965 to provide winter habitat for dusky Canada geese, stretches along Highway 22 with expansive, breathtaking views of the Willamette Valley. On the crest of one of the rolling hills, you can turn and look down at it all. The view is particularly striking when the leaves are turning and collecting in heaps on the ground, and the horizon is covered in vivid purples and ambers and browns.
But Baskett Slough offers much more than scenery and a fun afternoon hike. It is a bird lover’s paradise, with over 230 species of birds making a home there, including songbirds, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl. Animal lovers can also seek out 30 species of mammals, eight species of amphibians and 10 species of reptiles. Included are over 10 different species of federally listed threatened and endangered species of plants and wildlife — one of which being the Fender’s Blue Butterfly, a species thought to be extinct until the 1980s.
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See now why recreational activities like running and hunting aren’t allowed?
Bring your camera, a good pair of walking shoes and a jacket if it’s chilly. It’s easy to spend several hours here, marveling at the plants and the trees and the animals.
The refuge is part of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and includes William L. Fenley and Ankeny national wildlife refuges.
When you visit this little piece of wonder, keep in mind to keep your distance from other visitors, and, most importantly, respect the wildlife. You’re in their territory.
Bird-watching paradise
What: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Where: Located off Highway 22, turn on Smithfield Road. From Highway 99W, 2 miles north of the Highway 22 intersection, turn west onto Coville Road and continue along a gravel road for about a mile. You’ll reach a parking lot, small informational kiosk, bathroom and a trailhead after about a mile. Of note: Officials host a number of birding hikes and environmental informational activities at the refuge throughout the year.
