Vicinity Location: Gibbons Creek Wildlife Trail is about 17 miles East of Portland, OR, on the north shore of the Columbia River.
Directions:
From Portland, Take I-205 north across the Columbia River. Get into the right lane while crossing the river and take exit 27 for Washington State Route Hwy 14 East towards Camas. Take SR-14 East for 12.3 miles and pass Washougal, Washington. Just past Milepost 18, turn right at the entrance to Steigerwald Lake and the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trailhead.
No permits are required to park at this trailhead.
Park Rules and Regulations:
Park Hours are 5:30 a.m. to dusk or 9 p.m.
No animals allowed. No bikes, no running or jogging on the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail.
Toilets are available at the parking lot.
Length and Elevation:
2.5 miles roundtrip. Accessed by Steigerwald Trail 2.4 miles roundtrip. Elevation gain and loss totals 20 Feet.
Trail:
Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail with connections to Steigerwald Lake Trail.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Download Garmin .gpx file, Open Garmin .gpx file
Review: September 28, 2009, June 19, 2022
On Sunday, June 14, 2009, the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail opened to the public. This 2.5-mile trail connects to the existing Steigerwald Lake Trail, which is along the southern boundary of the refuge on the Columbia River dike. Along the trail, enjoy the wildlife and migratory birds as you walk past Cottonwood groves, fields, marshes, creeks, and lakes.
Start from on the Steigerwald Trail at waypoint TRGCT at the large gravel parking area and walk south. This trail has no tree cover, which is a consideration on hot summer days. The trail is a wide, hard-packed gravel path and has views of the surrounding countryside.
The trail branches off the near the Columbia River. Turn left here and walk east for about 0.3 mile where you turn left again and walk through a stile. You soon come to a signpost showing how far different birds migrate and the distance. In a distance is an osprey nest high in a cottonwood tree.
Crossing a large bridge look for the artwork on the railings. After about a half mile the trail tees off. Going left takes you through a Cottonwood forest with a couple of views of Scaup Pond then the trail dead ends in 600 feet.
Retracing your steps and continuing on the other fork of the trail wind through the meadows and pass through a stand of cottonwood trees. The gravel path goes a bit farther and reaches a trail junction. When the water is low you can walk along the river back to the beginning of the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail. There are several basalt rock benches along the trails to sit on and watch the birds.
There are views of Mt. Hood, but the base of Mt. Hood is blocked by the hills just across the river. There are good views across the river to Oregon and dogs and bicycles are allowed on this section of the trail.
This is a perfect first hike for small children because of the level paths and well graded trails. There are railings to protect youngsters from falling off the trail into the water. This being at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge, the winds here can blow at 40 miles per hour from the east. When the weather is cold, the wind will make for a short visit at the refuge.
There is an excellent probability of seeing birds in the nearby lakes but be sure to bring binoculars or a spotting scope because the lakes aren’t right next to the trail.
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