The Audubon Society of Portland’s 150-acre Nature Sanctuary is nestled against Forest Park just five minutes from downtown Portland. The free-to-the-public sanctuary has more than four miles of forested hiking trails and is a showcase for native flora and fauna. You can visit and enjoy the trails year ’round, from dawn to dusk every day.
Normally there are two ways people will arrive here. First as an extension on to the Balch Creek hike and second by car at the main Audubon Society campus and parking lot. Either way you end up at the main building complex. If the nature store is open it is good place to start. They have some displays that will explain more about the sanctuary and what the Audubon Society does. This is where there are bathrooms too. The nature store also has free maps of the trail system that they will give you if you ask. The part of the sanctuary that is a must see is out back of the campus. The trail begins at a gap between the Wildlife Care Center and the covered walkway. You will follow trail down to bridge the crosses Balch Creek and to the covered pavilion by the pond. Within this area there are other short trails to other structures and benches. You map should show these places. You will also find some informational signs here. If you are up for a longer hike you can hike the perimeter trail of the Sanctuary. Last time I was there the trail was in good shape. There are other trials that go through other sanctuary. These are on the other side of the road. I would rate these for the more serious hikers and not for casual walkers. If you are a serious bird watcher check out the binoculars in the Nature Store. Best collection of optics in Portland
If the center and store are closed here is a link to PDF of the trail map. Cell coverage is spotty in this area so don’t count on your phone for navigation.
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