Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is a 168-acre park located in a floodplain of the Willamette River. You will forget you are so close to Downtown Portland and feel you are in the wilderness.

Portland city is spoiling us with so many urban natural areas and refuges! Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is another natural gem that helps us to take a break from our busy urban lives.

This visit was our second one. I cannot believe I didn’t go to this location more often. That is the consequence of having so many amazing places in Portland and nearby; you need several years to revisit them all over again.

What to see and do

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge offers a perfect combination of wetland, meadow, and forest, and it’s the home of around 120 species of birds as well as beavers, deer, frogs, salamanders, and more.

This beautiful place is well known as a destination for enjoying nature while walking, running, picnicking, or even biking since it borders the Springwater Corridor.

Bluff Trail is the main trail of the refuge. It begins at the trailhead located on Sellwood Park and finishes in a small parking lot off S.E. Milwaukie Ave. Additionally, you can extend your walk combining that trail with the Springwater Corridor and make your hike around 3 miles long.

The hike

In my opinion, the best way to start the hike is to begin at the Sellwood Park Trailhead, which is located a couple of steps from the parking lot. There is a north parking lot off S.E. Milwaukie Ave.; however, with only ten spaces for cars, this place is almost always full.

From the trailhead and after reading the information signs, we started the walk in the Bluff trail. What a peaceful experience being surrounded by maples and grand firs, as well as summer wildflowers at this time of the year.

Also, at the beginning of the trail, you can appreciate the Portland cityscape as well as the view of Oaks Amusement Park.

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Going downhill and after finding some stone steps, you will see a footpath. Go right, and intermediately after that meadow, you will start walking in the section with shade again.

As we walked on this beautiful trail, we enjoyed the wildlife so much. We saw a nutria, a lot of different birds, and even a little snake. In some sections, we were in aw admiring the bald eagles flying.

During the hike, you will cross railed boardwalks, viewing platforms, and some footbridges.

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Finally, when you reach either the north parking lot off S.E. Milwaukie Ave or the Tadpole Pond (we didn’t visit it on this hike), it’s time to come back. Also, you can add the Springwater corridor trail to your walk.

Since this trailhead is at Sellwood Park, you can also enjoy its amenities, including a Playground, an accessible picnic area, and accessible restroom, several sports fields, paved and unpaved paths.

Additionally, if you love natural areas, wildlife refuges, and preserves, you will really enjoy some or all of these options.

We are so lucky to live in Portland with natural places like this one!

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Plan your trip

Main features/Amenities

• 168-acre park that includes natural area, paved paths, riverfront views, biking and hiking trails, and visitor attraction.
• One mile Bluff trail that can be combined with Springwater Corridor for making the hike longer.
• Sellwood Park includes parking, playground, accessible picnic area, and restrooms, as well as several sports fields.

Important information and tips

• Location: 714 SE Miller St, Portland, OR 97202.
• Web site.
• Park hours: 5:00 am to midnight.
• The north parking lot closed 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.
• Dogs are allowed on leash.
• Bicycles on paved trails only.