Finley NWR

Woke up to a chilly, overcast morning so we decided it would be a good day to do something outdoors.  I have been wanting to visit the Finley National Wildlife Refuge for some time so today was the day.  The refuge is located about 35 miles from our house, near Corvallis, Or.  

Passing through the small town of Monroe on our way to the refuge, we spied this old Lazy Daze motorhome sitting along the curb.  Maybe some of my fellow LD people can help me out but it looks to be a late 70s or early 80s model.  Was back when they had real opening windows in the cabover.






While going around the block to get a better look at the Lazy Daze, we saw this beautiful old house.  Monroe is kind of a poor area and a very small town, so I didn’t expect to see something like this.




The refuge is located down a gravel road.  While it was a bit wash-boardy, it wasn’t too bad.  It cut through some picturesque farmland.  Here was a field of mint, getting a much need sprinkling.



We crossed a railroad track and used the utmost caution as the warning sign requested.  Somehow, I don’t think we were ever in any real danger of being crushed by a passing train!



“The refuge was named for William L. Finley, an early conservationist who persuaded President Theodore Roosevelt to set aside the first national wildlife refuge west of the Mississippi River.”  (from website)  That refuge is Three Arch Rocks NWR and is off the northern coast of Oregon near Oceanside.  It’s one I definitely want to visit in the not too distant future.

The Finley refuge was set aside mainly for migrating birds, specifically several sub-species of Canada Geese.  To be honest, there was not too much to see today as it was not the right time of year.  From November to April is when the refuge is most active. 

One of the first viewing areas upon entering the park is Prairie Overlook.  It overlooks a Prairie, yes it does!!!  This is a composite of several shots I took.  This is a great viewing area and plenty of benches on which to rest and just enjoy the out doors.


This is also a trail head but it was too hot by now to do much walking out across the prairie.  Boy am I glad I didn’t have to cross Kansas in a covered wagon!

There are many miles of trails within the refuge and most are short and doable even by slugs like us!  Most of the walking trails are closed from Nov. 1 to April 1 so that the nesting birds are not disturbed.  The gravel road circumnavigates the refuge and is open all year.  There are lots of pull outs allowing for viewing the various areas.

From prairie to marshland to deep forest, the refuge provides many different types of habitat.





We spent some time walking around the Fiechter House, completed in 1857, and thought to be the oldest house in Benton County.  Although it is not open to inside tours, we enjoyed the view and the trees and just imagining what it would have been like to live in that house over 150 years ago.



I imagine they farmed the land as there were no Safeways or Costcos close by!  Their apple trees in the back yard were still producing fruit, as was a plum tree out front.



A picnic table provided a great lunch spot but it was still too early for us.


Although we were here at the wrong time of the year to observe the wildlife, I did see a robin and a dragonfly at the visitor’s center!!


And at one of the marshy areas we spied yet another Oregon Alligator.  These critters can be deadly and this one looked hungry so we didn’t linger.


A stop at Avery Park in Corvallis to enjoy our Sub sandwiches and we were ready to call it a day.  Poppy is not looking at her food (in the container with the red lid).  She wanted my sandwich but I am not as generous as Al is with Pheebs, and ate one half and saved the other half for dinner.


Tomorrow we are going to try and beat the heat with a trip to Winchester Bay via Elkton.  Haven’t been over that way for quite some time so we’re looking forward to it.  The temps only reached the low 80s today so that’s more bearable.  The End – sorry no picture !