Visit Us
Visitors will discover scenic landscapes and opportunities to view wildlife, all within a short drive of the Portland-Vancouver metro area. A close-by escape from the city, the Refuge provides a home for local animals and plants that live here year-round, as well as those that migrate here for a season. With every visit, there is the opportunity to experience something new or expand your learning of what may be familiar to you.
If you are local to the Ridgefield area and need transportation to the refuge, visit here to learn how to use C-Tran's $1 on-demand rideshare service, The Current.
This refuge is a fee site. Learn more about the entrance fee and passes available on the Rules and Policies page. For gate times and directions see our Locations page.
Activities
At your local refuges, we celebrate that everyone experiences nature and the benefits of being outdoors in different ways. Staff strives to create outdoor experiences for those coming from many backgrounds, interests, and comfort levels. The following are wildlife-dependent activities that will help you explore the outdoors and experience your own personal connection to the natural world.
Trails
Feel as though you have escaped the city as you explore forests of Ash and Oregon white oak trees. Open your lungs and mind as you travel along wetland trails and watch wildlife soar the open water, fields, and sky. Trails differ in terrain, habitat, and open seasons.
Some trail access closes seasonally to offer undisturbed habitat to resting waterfowl during the winter and spring months or nesting space during the spring and summer. See trail profiles for maps, directions, and seasonal closures to help plan your visit.
Seasonal Trail Access:
Kiwa Trail: Open August 1st through September 30th*
Refuge management will allow the Kiwa Trail to be open through Sunday, October 6th this year. Access to these trails is NOT PERMITTED from October 7th - April 30th to protect wintering migratory birds.
Walking or getting out of your car along the Auto Tour Route is NOT PERMITTED October 1st - April 30th.
Carty Trail from Port Entrance to Gee Creek bridge: Open May 1st through September 30th*
Refuge management will allow the Carty Lake trail to be open through Sunday, October 6th this year. Access to these trails is NOT PERMITTED from October 7th - April 30th to protect wintering migratory birds.
Year-round Trail Access:
The Oaks to Wetlands Trail remains open year-round
During the spring and summer months, staff will close pieces of the Oaks to Wetland trail for restoration activity. This usually only lasts half of a day. (see section 6 on map)
Auto Tour Route remains open year-round with pedestrian access allowed from May 1st thorugh September 30th.
Other Facilities in the Complex
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex is comprised of four refuges along the lower Columbia River.
Rules and Policies
The refuge welcomes visitors and provides facilities for activities that depend upon wildlife, such as wildlife observation, environmental education and hunting. Other activities that are not wildlife dependent, such as biking, jogging or boating are not offered at this refuge. The following rules and policies are intended to keep both wildlife and visitors safe and provide an enjoyable experience for all.
Locations
This entrance provides access to the Carty Unit of the refuge and includes the year round Oaks to Wetlands trail and the seasonal Carty Lake trail. The parking lot includes two ADA vault toilets. There is no running water available.
- From Interstate 5 take Exit 14 for Pioneer Street/ Washington 501 W toward Ridgefield.
- Coming from the north turn right for NW 269th/Pioneer Street
- Coming from the south turn left for NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- At the first traffic circle, continue straight on NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- At the second traffic circle, continue straight on NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- At the Main Street traffic light take a right. Continue on N Main for 1 mile
- Refuge Entrance will be on the left.
If you are local to the Ridgefield area and need transportation to the refuge, visit here to learn how to use C-Tran's $1 on-demand rideshare service, The Current.
This entrance to the refuge gives you access to the year round auto tour route, the seasonal Kiwa trail and the seasonal waterfowl hunting program. There are two sets of ADA vault toilets. There is no running water.
- From Interstate 5 (both north and south) take Exit 14 for Pioneer Street/ Washington 501 W toward Ridgefield.
- Coming from the north turn right for NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- Coming from the south turn left for NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- At the traffic circle continue straight onto NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- At the second traffic circle continue straight onto NW 269th/Pioneer Street.
- At the stop sign on S 9th Ave/S Hillhurst Street, turn left. Drive approx .7 miles.
- Refuge Entrance will be on the right.
This entrance is on the property of the Port of Ridgefield and gives pedestrian access to the Carty Unit trail system seasonally from May 1st through September 30th. October through April visitors can use the entrance pavilion, spur trail and Lake River overlook without entrance fee.