Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon

Birding · Nature walk · locavore

Oregon is made for road tripping. Who doesn’t love a drive down the Oregon Coast on Hwy 101 or through the Gorge on I-84? But there’s a route that’s even more epic than any Oregon roadway. The Pacific Flyway is right above our heads and every year more than a billion birds road trip on it through Oregon. Stretching from Alaska to Patagonia, this north-south flyway covers thousands of miles. And just like us, these hero road trippers have their favorite places to stop, rest and eat. That’s where we get really lucky. Like a giant game of Where’s Waldo or Pokémon GO, we get to have fun spotting these amazing travelers. Birding is the best - trust me! And today I’m going to take you to one of my favorite local spots.

Getting there

Fernhill Wetlands is located about 26 miles west of Portland in Forest Grove, Oregon. Designated as an Important Bird Area by Portland Audubon, Fernhill Wetlands is a popular site for birders, photographers and those looking for an ADA accessible 1.1 mile nature walk. It is beautiful now. But Fernhill Wetlands wasn’t always that way. In 2014, Clean Water Services began work to transform 90 acres of sewage lagoons into a treatment wetlands. Over 1 million native wetland plants, 4 billion seeds and almost 200 logs and snags were carefully placed to create a wildlife sanctuary. Today, nearly 5 million gallons of wastewater are treated here daily - first with the conventional methods of wastewater treatment and then with a natural treatment system utilizing the wetlands. It is here where the water is further cleaned, cooled, naturalized then returned to the Tualatin River. The result is a dynamic and thriving wetlands less than a mile from the heart of Forest Grove.

There is ample parking available at Fernhill Wetlands. TriMet also provides service to Forest Grove using the 57 bus, but there is about a mile walk along Hwy 47 to Fernhill. A bike station, restroom and small covered picnic area are available on site. And tours can be requested for groups of 10 or more. To protect the birds and wildlife, dogs and bikes are not allowed on the trails.

The Experience

I will start with the birding because birding is fun! The types of birds you will see here depends on the time of year you visit. Every day is different. Even the time of day makes a difference. That’s why I love this place so much. Each visit is a unique experience.

In general, you will likely be able to spot a variety of herons and egrets like Great Blue Herons, the illusive Green Heron, Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets. There are numerous shore birds, waterfowl and songbirds. There are a pair of resident Bald Eagles that can often be spotted as well as other birds of prey like Osprey, hawks and Peregrine Falcons. And if you get lucky and happen to come on the right day you might see the American White Pelican which has the longest wingspan of any bird in Oregon or the Trumpeter swan which is not only the largest waterfowl species in Oregon, it’s one of the heaviest flying birds in the world! A flock of Trumpeter Swans - each weighing up to 30 pounds and with an 8-foot wingspan - flew right over my head at Fernhill Wetlands. Their power was spectacular! This flock of American White Pelicans was a little higher up as they flew over me - but with a wingspan of up to 10 feet, they were just as fantastic!

Given the wide variety of bird species to be seen at Fernhill Wetlands, on any given day you’ll find people way crazier about birding than I am with massive telephoto lenses out there just doing their thing. But you don’t have to be an expert to appreciate this place or the thousands of birds who pass through it. If you see a cool bird and don’t know the name of it, Google Lens it and you’ll look pretty smart. And if you don’t own a camera that costs more than your first car, just use your phone. This is about the experience of getting out there and having your own adventure.

Birding may be Fernhill Wetlands’ claim to fame, but this place is great for a relaxing walk in nature. In addition to the 1.1 mile ADA accessible loop, there are little trails off the main path that explore marshes, water gardens and a research wetlands. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers and in fall the surrounding hills are a sea of yellow leaves. On a clear winter day you can see Mt. Hood and Mount Saint Helens. And sunset in any season is special here. It’s the best time to hear songbirds like the Red Winged Blackbird while being treated to a gorgeous sunset.

Are those beavers?

Nope. Those are nutria. And when you see the little baby nutria hanging out with their mamas, you’re going to think they are just about the cutest little invasive species you’ve ever seen. With a beaver-like body and rat-like tail, these hunched back rodents were brought here from South America in the 1930’s for fur farming. Unfortunately they eat a lot of plants - up to 25% of their body weight each day! This can cause a lot of erosion and is ultimately bad for the wetland ecosystem. Some parts of the country have taken to a “if you can’t beat them, eat them” campaign. I’d rather eat 25% of my body weight in plants.

A goose invasion

Every fall, Fernhill Wetlands is visited by thousands of migrating Canada and Cackling geese. This is something truly to see. Canada geese - with a wingspan of up to 6-feet -and smaller but similar appearing Cackling geese darken the sky in mass. The noise is deafening. Their power is so fierce you can hear the air whooshing with the beating of their wings. One by one they drop from the sky into Fernhill Lake, sometimes gliding into the water like a seaplane and other times nailing their landing with the precision of a helicopter. Then as if telling each other about the fantastic sights they’ve seen on their road trip here, they cackle and honk until the sun sets. If you’re there at sunset and don’t happen to see thousands of geese in Fernhill Lake, head over to the viewpoint at Cattail Marsh and look across Fern Hill Road to the farmland. Their numbers there some nights would rival those at a Timbers game. Because I’m not a farmer or worried about the water quality or have ever been pooped on, I think this annual goose invasion is incredible! You should definitely see it at least once.

Nearby Attractions

Forest Grove. It only took one visit for me to fall in love with this place. Forest Grove is surrounded by beautiful farmland and vineyards, which make it a great locavore spot. Downtown Forest Grove is lined with historic buildings, great restaurants, shopping and the beautiful campus of Pacific University. Forest Grove has the World’s Tallest Barber Pole. There is also the Contact Lens Museum - which I am sure is fascinating for all the optometry students at Pacific University. A great little farmer’s market runs May - October on Wednesday afternoons on Main Street.

Forest Grove is famous for being the birthplace of Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley - and you can go to David Hill Vineyard where it all started. There are a lot of other fantastic wines made in the 65 wineries surrounding the area including Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Riesling. Forest Grove is also home to America’s first sake brewery - SakéOne. Not only was it the first sake brewery in 1997, SakéOne has won more awards than any other sake brewery in America. And it’s just a few blocks from Fernhill Wetlands.

McMenamins Grand Lodge is a unique experience on its own with food, historic lodging, spirits (both kinds!), two secret rooms on the third floor, a spa and beautiful gardens. There is often live music - which pairs perfectly with a hummus plate and pint of Ruby Ale at the Yardhouse Pub on a summer evening.

The Pink Spoon is a delicious treat if you have kids (or a sweet tooth!). The promise of this cool frozen yogurt shop works like magic on kids who feel you’ve been birding too long. And if you are visiting in the summer, definitely stop by the Unger Farm Store. Here you can eat lunch with a view, play ball with the kids, shop for local gourmet treats and pick up a flat of fresh berries. This is one of my favorite local berry stands.

And there you have it - an amazing adventure to Fernhill Wetlands and Forest Grove. As always, be sure to check local resources for weather, road conditions and COVID-19 related closures when planning your trip. And don’t forget to post your photos to #lifelivedoregonstyle on Instagram. We’ll see you out there!