The Snag Boat Bend unit of William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge features backwater sloughs as well as cottonwood gallery forest. In the sloughs, look for wintering waterfowl and Black Phoebe, and Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Cinnamon Teal and Spotted Sandpiper in spring. In the forest look for nesting Western Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Swainson’s Thrush, and Pileated Woodpecker. The fully accessible boardwalk trail from the parking lot to an observation platform overlooking Beaver Pond is open year-round. Refuge trails beyond the boardwalk are closed Oct 1 – Jan 31. While you’re in the area, you can search along back roads for wintering swan flocks, which are regular visitors to fields N and E of Halsey, along with Prairie and Peregrine Falcons, Rough-legged Hawk, Burrowing Owl, and rarely Snow Bunting or Lapland Longspur.
From Corvallis, travel 1 mi E on Hwy 34 and turn S on Peoria Rd for 9.5 mi. Go 1 mi S of Peoria. Refuge access is to the W across the bridge.
