Cattail Pond, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge (bobcat)

• Hikes to this destination:
  • Finley Refuge Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Hikes including this destination:
  • Pigeon Butte Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 44.40145, -123.32397
• Elevation: 260 feet

Description

Cattail Pond is one of the several marshes you will encounter when walking around the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge. In general, the Willamette Valley refuges are heavily managed and water levels in most of these ponds are regulated. The pond is aptly named as it supports around its verges a healthy population of cattails (Typha sp.). The flowering spikes persist through the winter and into the following spring to provide an interesting visual feature.

From the south end of Cattail Pond, look toward the green slopes of Pigeon Butte for grazing elk. A loop trail will take you right along the edge of a field and into a dense thicket where the elk hide during the day. This path may be extremely boggy in the spring and, in fact, could remain closed after the rest of the refuge opens to hikers.

More Links

• Cattails
• William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge Trail Descriptions (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
• Woodpecker Loop Trail - Finley Wildlife Refuge (Every Trail)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)