Welcome to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -- one of only a handful of National Wildlife Refuges in America that are near a major metropolitan area. Located within the floodplain of the Tualatin River, the refuge supports some of the most abundant and varied wildlife in the watershed. The refuge is open every day from dawn until dusk; click here to find out when the Visitor's Center is open.
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge was officially designated and established in 1992. Visitors can enjoy a year-round trail that meanders through a variety of habitats, including wetlands and oak savanna. With over 200 species of birds, the refuge is a fantastic bird-watching destination. Visitors can also keep their eyes peeled for a variety of other mammals, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and insects. Informative sign boards suggest what to look for at various locations along the path.
Please note that this is a wildlife refuge, not a city park, so leave your pets and bicycles at home -- but do bring binoculars if you can! Enjoy an easy, mostly flat 1-mile walk (2 miles round trip) through the refuge from the parking area to the overlook, and keep your voice low while you watch for birds. I frequently see bald eages and red-tailed hawks here, and I've even spied a golden eagle on occasion.
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.
To log this cache:
1) Stand at the "Setting the Dinner Table" placard. How many animal footprints are imprinted in the concrete pathway immediately to your right? Count only the tracks on the south side of the path, in the cluster closest to you. Send your answer to this question to the cache owner (do NOT include the answer in your log).
2) At the posted coordinates, take a photo that shows something in the area that you find interesting and include that photo in your log. It'll be fun to see what catches people's interest and how the scenery changes with the seasons.