Calendar

Past Activity

Finley:PigeonButte/CheadleMarsh

  • Start date: 09/17/2023

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 09/17/2023

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Meet at the Jerry's Home Improvement Center parking lot (2600 OR-99, Eugene, OR 97402) on the east side near the main entrance and Hwy 99. We will carpool from there. Our route will be 99W > W on Bruce Road (Gravel) > making a bathroom stop at the McFadden Marsh parking area, then a quarter of a mile to the Pigeon Butte parking area.

This is nature-viewing hike to the highest point on the refuge for great views of the Willamette Valley. Look for band-tailed pigeons and songbirds on this part of the trail. On our return hike, we pass over to the the Cheadle Marsh Trail to observe a wetland. Look for Great Blue Herons, also observe any wetlands plants that have been influenced by the autumn water level.

Lunch will be somewhere on the trail. Dress for the weather. We plan to return to the Jerry's parking lot between 3pm and 4pm.

  • Event Leader: Hougardy Mark

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type:

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Easy

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 58

  • Season: 2023

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 4

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 300

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

This was a meandering nature-viewing hike to the highest point of the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Our hike began with a short side trip to the Prairie Overlook on the south side of Bruce Road to enjoy the view, then we walked north along the Pigeon Butte Trail. We looked for band-tailed pigeons and songbirds. We did see one raptor. There were signs of a previous fire on the south side of the butte as much of the grasslands had been charred. We saw a large white oaks along the trail going up the butte. At the old quarry, several roosting turkey vultures observed us. At the top of the butte, we could easily see 40 miles to the south of Skinner Butte even though there was smoke from an area forest fire. On the return walk, we had lunch under a tree then Cheadle Barn then continued on the Cheadle Marsh Trail to observe a wetland. The area was very dry. We saw signs of elk, a lizard, a frog, several white-colored praying mantis, and a Great Blue Heron eating a frog.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 8
  • Number of spots available: 0
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Hougardy, Mark 541-206-9532 N —
2 Signed-Up Hougardy, Christiane 541-914-4556 N —
3 Signed-Up Orsi, Barbara 541-515-9665 N —
4 Signed-Up Carpenter, Kathie 541-505-2370 N —
5 Signed-Up Marsonette, Vern 541-600-5332 N —
6 Signed-Up Whitfield, Nancy 541-520-0450 N —
7 Signed-Up Ashmore, Charles 530-394-7880 N —
8 Signed-Up Anderson, Heidi 805-798-1842 N —
9 Signed-Up Iredale, Gwyneth 541-505-0055 N —
10 Signed-Up Stewart Smith, Meg 541-913-5464 N —
11 Signed-Up Pfautz, Annette 541-525-1069 N —
12 Waitlist Messinger, Debra 541-914-4696 N —
13 Waitlist Hackett, Jane 541-953-7046 N —
14 Waitlist Martz, Helen 541-345-6229 N —
15 Signed-Up Temple, Mitch 541-868-7252 N —
16 Waitlist Christiansen, Lynda 541-912-9952 N —