If you want a quick jaunt outdoors without having to plan excessively, this short trip is just for you. Featuring a 1/2-mile walking trail, this getaway in Portland is just what you need to escape from your daily stress and reconnect with the natural world around you.
Whitaker Ponds Nature Area is located at 7040 NE 47 Avenue, about a 1/2 mile north of Columbia Boulevard.
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Home to Whitaker Slough, the water is peaceful, and an important part of the area’s ecosystem for birds and fish.
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In the summer, the park is home to native blooms, with a lovely wildflower garden at its entrance.
brx0 / Flickr
At this time of year though, spotting the wildlife that makes the park home is most common. Rabbits, beavers, osprey, otters and wood ducks all live in this hidden away location.
brx0 / Flickr
The park features an eco-roof gazebo …
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And an observation deck that makes viewing the ponds a fun adventure. Sit and enjoy a quiet moment here while you are there.
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The 1/2 mile loop is easy and something you can do again and again. If you come back in late winter, you can even catch the magical sight of grey owlets in the great horned owl’s nest high in the bare cottonwood trees.
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Explore this small park and trail for an off-the-beaten path adventure this fall and you will keep coming back for its charm throughout the year.
brx0 / Flickr
Where is your favorite place for a short hike in the city? Let us know in the comments below.
David Burn / Flickr
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