If a community’s wealth can be measured by its wildness, Washington County must be one of the richest places around.

That’s especially true at two wildlife areas: Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve near Hillsboro and the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge near Sherwood.

Both sites are wonderful examples of the adage: if you build the habitat, the wildlife will come and stay and thrive.

People come to visit too because both areas offer exciting Walks on the Wild Side, that are close to home and yet a million miles away from the city hub-bub, pavement and noise.

What you may enjoy the most is how easy each of these wildlife areas is to reach from any corner of the Greater Portland region.

Wildlife can be seen along the hiking trails at every turn: from a solitary eagle perched on watch, scurrying shorebirds probing muck of the marshes or v-shaped flocks of geese winging their way from this place to that.

Both wildlife areas are getaway escapes that you’ll be eager to explore – from the rush of city life to the rush of wings.