Preserving Nature in the Northwest - Five Outstanding National Wildlife Refuges

The American West and Northwest were settled with the idea that nature had to be tamed. Mastery of the land was admired and what it had to offer was the name of the game. Since then, we have come to realize that while management of resources is important, sometimes it's best to virtually leave nature alone.

With that thought in mind, I offer five refuges for wildlife and nature that I've visited many times.

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex

It's called a complex because it's actually a network of nature preserves straddling the border area of Oregon and California. Lower Klamath, Tule Lake, and Clear Lake in California join Upper Klamath, Bear Valley, and Klamath Marsh in Oregon to comprise the complex. While only 25 percent of the original wetlands remain, the complex still represents a vast network of preserved nature.

Home to the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the lower 48, with hundreds of thousands of transiting and permanent waterfowl including pelicans and herons, the place is a birdwatchers paradise. But don't forget, the complex also has forests, meadows, grasslands, and open sagebrush country.

The canoe trail on the Upper Klamath Refuge was one of my favorite activities. The complex is also close to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon and Mount Shasta in California.

Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge

Just west of Tillamook on the Oregon Coast is a jewel, where vertical cliffs are home to peregrine falcons and old growth forests are protected. In conjunction with Cape Meares Scenic Viewpoint, the NWR provides excellent viewing of sea cliff birds, migrating whales, more than three miles of hiking trails, and the chance to view a historic lighthouse.

Inexplicably, vandals damaged the Cape Meares Lighthouse in January 2010. Because of the damage, only the lower portion is currently open to visitors.

The Cape is the only place in the United States where three refuges can be seen at the same time. Three Arch Rocks NWR has amazing bird colonies, as well as Steller sea lions. Oregon Islands NWR actually consists of all the sea islands up and down the coast.

Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Another set of NWR sites networked into a complex, the Washington Maritime Complex consists of six refuges. The San Juan Islands NWR is best visited by boat. Most of the islands can only be viewed from the water, but Matia and Turn islands do allow moorage and camping.

The Dungeness NWR is mostly a huge sand spit reaching out into the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The New Dungeness Lighthouse is at the end of the spit, and can be reached by hiking the 10 mile round trip.

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge

Unique in that it is the only mountainous, mixed-conifer forest refuge in the lower 48 states, the Little Pend Oreille NWR is an important area for migratory song birds. Also on the refuge are deer, elk, bear, the threatened Canada lynx, and other mammals. The refuge differs from many in that it allows properly licensed hunting and fishing during appropriate seasons.

The refuge is remote and subject to winter closures. Good driving directions can be found here.

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Perhaps outside what is considered the Northwest, I had to include Ruby Lake because it is so incredible. Set on the southeast flank of the Ruby Mountains, it's a desert oasis of remote magnificence. The Ruby Mountains, dubbed "Nevada's Swiss Alps," are stunning in their beauty. Ruby Lake NWR joins the mountains as a surprising desert experience.

To get to the refuge you must leave the pavement. Depending on the direction you come in, from 23 to 35 miles of gravel road must be traversed. It's well worth the trip. Ruby Lake and the Ruby Mountains are just north of Great Basin National Park, another little visited wonder in remote Northern Nevada.