Visit the Refuge

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Open Hours. What are Today’s Open Hours? Before you travel, check here for today’s daily open hours (scroll down) on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (RNWR) Website. While open hours are typically sunrise to sunset for both Units of the Refuge that are open to the public — Carty and River S/Auto Tour — unexpected weather or other closures may impact daily hours.

 

• Trails Status. Are all Refuge trails open? See this page for current trail closures. All seasonal trails are typically closed October 1 through April 30, subject to change.

 

• Entry Fees and Passes. Is there an Entry Fee? Daily $3 Fee or RNWR Annual Pass -or- valid Federal Pass will be accepted for entry to the Refuge.
  • • Daily $3, Entry Fee. Pay either online or onsite. Online, go to recreation.gov and follow the prompts. (Note: Fees will initially appear lower to accommodate platform fees, and will be adjusted during checkout.) Onsite, pay by cash/check only at a visitor contact station, using exact change. The $3 fee covers all Refuge visitors in a single vehicle, motorcycle, or up to 4 adults on foot. Youth ages 15 and under are always free.
    • RNWR Annual Pass. Purchase an RNWR Annual Pass either online or in person. This pass provides entry to RNWR only. Online, go to recreation.gov and follow the prompts. In person, purchase through a fee envelope, or at the Refuge Office, Mon-Fri, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, at 28908 NW Main AVE, in Ridgefield.
    • Valid Federal Pass. Here’s a list of valid Federal Passes that are accepted for entry to the Refuge. Use your existing pass, or purchase one at the RNWR Administration Office, Mon-Fri, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.
  • Note: State passes, such as The Washington State Discover Pass, are not valid on Federally managed public lands, including Ridgefield NWR and all National Wildlife Refuges.

 

• Transportation Assistance. Is there transportation available to the Refuge? For Ridgefield area residents, check out C-Tran’s $1 on-demand rideshare service, The Current.

 

• Questions? Can I hike with my dog? Can I hunt? Review this page for Refuge Rules and Policies. Or, for general questions or to check for staff availability, you can call the Ridgefield NWR Administration Office at 360-887-4106, Mon-Fri, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.
  Onsite, the Office is open: Mon-Fri, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (RNWR) has over 5,000 acres of marshes, grasslands, and woodlands. The RNWR consists of two Units: The Carty Unit and River S Unit, which are open to the public.

Along with three other refuges in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, the Ridgefield NWR was established in 1965, in response to a need to establish vital habitat for wintering waterfowl. Read more here about the history, mission, and vision of RNWR.

Activities:

Whether you want to hike, birdwatch or drive the Auto Tour, there are options to enjoy the Refuge for everyone! See this page for Accessibility information for trails designated as wheelchair-friendly and kid-friendly.

At both Units, year-round bird residents such as Mallards, Great Blue Herons, and Red-Tailed Hawks nest on the Refuge. And during their spring and fall migrations, Sandhill Cranes, shorebirds, and a great variety of songbirds stop at the Refuge.

Black-tailed Deer, and threatened Columbian White-tailed Deer are the largest mammals that live on the Refuge, while coyote, raccoon, skunk, beaver, river otter, and brush rabbits may also be seen. See this page to increase your chances of successfully spotting wildlife!

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex is headquartered in Ridgefield, Washington, and oversees management of four refuges in the southwestern area of Washington state.

The RNWR Complex consists of: Ridgefield NWR (Carty and River S Units), plus three additional refuges in the Columbia River Gorge – Franz Lake, Pierce, and Steigerwald Lake.

Visit these pages to explore volunteer opportunities and environmental education programs at the Refuges!

Carty Unit

28908 NW Main Ave
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Official Refuge Website »

Entry Fees/Passes + Refuge Rules »

Hours + Directions »

Printable Maps »

Community Nature Center Project »

The Carty Unit hosts the main Refuge Headquarters, the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, the Oaks to Wetlands Trail, and the seasonal Carty Lake Trail. The Carty Unit is open daily to walkers, from sunrise to sunset.
The Carty Unit entrance leads you down the seasonal Oaks to Wetlands Trail towards the Plankhouse and seasonal Carty Lake Trail.

Preservation of the natural Columbia River floodplain is the management objective of the Carty, Roth and Ridgeport Dairy units. Read here for more about the management and conservation objectives of the Carty Unit.

Visitor Facilities

Brochures, Maps, and Wildlife Checklists. Near the parking lot, or stop by the Refuge Headquarters to pick up a brochure, map, or wildlife checklists, and up-to-date information on events.

Note: There are no picnic areas or drinking fountains on both Units of the RNWR.

Seasonal Trail Closures

Closed October 1 – April 30: The Carty Lake Trail and Port Entrance to the Carty Unit close to limit disturbance to wintering waterfowl in those wetlands. This trail reopens on May 1.

In case of extreme weather, the trail may be open, but visit at your own risk. If work is happening, there will be cones and signs indicating the closed part of the trail.

Walking Trails

• Oaks to Wetlands Trail. 4-mile loop, Open Year-Round. The path is paved for the first .16 of a mile, until you reach the “Oak Wetland Overlook.” After that, although maintained,  this trail is undeveloped. Many parts of the trail are uneven, rocky, steep, narrow, and may become slippery when wet. There are also optional spur trails that parallel the paved portion that are dirt and native material. Wear sturdy shoes, avoid contacting poison oak, and follow all advisory signs.
• Carty Lake Trail. 1.15 miles, Seasonal, from below the Plankhouse, towards the Port of Ridgefield. You can park at the port, pay your entrance fee and walk to the Unit and back; alternately, you can park on the refuge and loop to the port and back. This is a seasonal trail, open May 1 through Sept. 30, plus BirdFest weekend, the first weekend of October.

Main Street Extension. When the Carty Lake Trail is open for the season, walkers are able to complete an 8-mile loop through Downtown Ridgefield, the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, and the Port of Ridgefield. The loop will serve as a tour of the heart of Ridgefield and offers views of historic downtown buildings, Gee Creek, the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, Carty Lake, and Lake River.

When Carty Lake Trail is seasonally closed from Oct 1-April 30, use the sidewalk or Headquarters Trail to walk into the Carty Unit from downtown.

River ‘S’ Unit

1071 S Hillhurst Rd
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Official Refuge Website »

Entry Fees/Passes + Refuge Rules »

Hours + Directions »

River S Audio Tour Podcast »

Maximizing habitat for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife is the management objective of the River S Unit. Learn more here about the management and conservation objectives of the River S Unit.

The River S Unit offers the Auto Tour Route and the seasonal Kiwa Trail to the public daily, as well as access for permit holders to the hunt zones.

Viewing Blind on the River S Unit. Open year-round. The Viewing Blind (a small wildlife observation shelter) accessed near the restrooms, about halfway through the Auto Tour loop. This shelter is covered by a stand of Oregon ash trees and has cut-out windows where spotting scopes and cameras can be set up for close-up views of wildlife.

Visitor Facilities

Brochures, Maps, and Wildlife Checklists. At the entrance, stop by the visitor contact station (a small wooden shelter) to pick up a brochure, map, or wildlife checklist.

Volunteers may staff the contact station; if volunteers are not present, pick up information from the dispenser boxes outside.

Restrooms

• Entrance. Two vault restrooms are located at the entrance of the Unit, at the visitor contact station.
• Observation Shelter / Viewing Blind. One vault restroom is located at the observation blind.
• Note: There are no picnic areas or drinking fountains on both Units of the refuge.

Seasonal Trail Closures: October through April

From October 1 through April 30, the following trails are closed:

• Kiwa Trail. On the River S Unit and Carty Trail, to limit disturbance to wintering waterfowl in those wetlands. These trails typically reopen on May 1, subject to change.
• No Walk-in use of Auto Tour Route. This closure reduces disturbance to wintering waterfowl caused by visible human presence. During this time, please stay in your car except at the information booth and restrooms. Walk-in use typically reopens May through September.

River S Unit Bridge Entrance

Enter the River S Unit on a two-lane bridge that takes you over the railroad tracks. Please pay your entrance fee or enter your pass number at the contact station, and follow all Refuge rules, especially staying in your vehicle until May 1, and moving over so other vehicles can pass. Find out more here about visiting the Refuge.

Auto Tour Driving Route

Bicycles, off-road vehicles, and ATV driving are not permitted on the Refuge. The road is suitable for passenger vehicles, school buses, and RVs. Please use turnouts to allow traffic flow, and observe the speed limit and all Refuge signs.

The Auto Tour Route is primarily a one-way, 4.2-mile loop gravel road, with the first mile of the road two-way. It is open daily to vehicles from sunrise to sunset. Alternately, visitors may walk the Auto Tour Route between May 1 – Sept 30.

If you have a large or oversized vehicle or are unsure about current road conditions, please call the Refuge at 360-887-4106, M-F, 9 AM – 3:00 PM for more information.

Walking Trail

Kiwa Trail. 1.2-mile loop. Seasonal, Open May 1 through September 30. The Kiwa Trail is the only walking trail available on the River S Unit. The trail passes through an understory of Oregon ash trees and between open wetland areas.

The path is compacted gravel and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.