Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge: So Verdant, So Rich

For the most part of the drive, we are not allowed to get out of our cars so as to avoid disturbing the animal and birds going about their day. I had absolutely no complaints about that because we could move at our own pace, even stop wherever we wanted to, provided we were mindful of the few cars that might want to move ahead of us. ย 
The bird blind at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

 

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

People come to Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge for the birds. It is like a paradise on earth for birds and birdwatchers, alike. It is also an area that is green as green can be. ย Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge lies beside the Columbia River’s northerly route and is biologically very rich. Birds, animals and rich green vegetation; this place has them all.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge lies a few miles north of Vancouver, Washington. And the reason it is teeming with life is because it is a wetland created by the waters of the Columbia River on its way to the Pacific Ocean.

The kiosk, Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, WA

The kiosk, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Info. for the auto tour.

To see the fauna and flora that this wildlife refuge is famous for, one can do hikes or the auto-tour through the wetland. We chose to do the latter. As such, we drove to the entrance picked up a map from the kiosk and set out to set eyes on this verdant corner of Washington’s Clarke County.

It is one of the easiest of scenic drives I have seen in the US. There weren’t a whole lot of cars on the route but the ones that were out that day were taking their own sweet time making stops every few feet so that bird enthusiasts in them could quietly observe avian life from the confines of their automobiles. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry; there was no honking. It was like everything was set to a slow motion. It was a unique experience to be on a drive like that.

For the most part of the drive, we are not allowed to get out of our cars so as to avoid disturbing the animal and birds going about their day. And I had absolutely no complaints about that because we could move at our own pace, even stop wherever we wanted to, provided we were mindful of the few cars that might want to move ahead of us.

Ridgefieldl Wildlife Refuge, WA

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

One of the many lakes in the Refuge.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge – The Auto Tour

Auto tour, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

The scenic route.

Auto tour, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Now is when I take you on a vicarious drive into the wild wetlands in Ridgefield in Washington State. Here are some of the photographs of theย several littleย lakes, marshes, grasslands and the animal life we came across as we auto-toured Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.

Birds at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

A sample of the very rich avifauna of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.

 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Any idea about what bird this is?

Birds at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

The blind, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

The bird blind or an observation blind — from where you can watch birds without disturbing them.

The observation blind, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

A view from the bird blind.

Birds at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Birds at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

A turtle at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

I’m guessing that was a Nutria. (I happened to see it’s tail and its whiskers and it sure looked like one.)

Birds at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Have you been to a National Wildlife Refuge that could go into our travel wishlist? Please let us know in the comments.

Linking to

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More trip ideas:

>Pacific Northwest

>Washington (State)

>Scenic Drives

 

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Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. ๐Ÿ“ธ Loves tripping.๐Ÿ›ฃ Tipsy from every TRIP!๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿซฃ ๐ŸžFollow > for intoxicating virtual trips!๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ˜‰
29 Comments on this post.
  • Lady Fi
    13 February 2018 at 11:31 am
    Leave a Reply

    Great shots! Looks like a nice area.

    • dNambiar
      14 February 2018 at 4:36 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you.
      It was such a refreshing place. ๐Ÿ™‚
      Thank you for visiting, Lady Fi. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • NatureFootstep PhotoArt
    17 February 2018 at 8:02 am
    Leave a Reply

    Nice to see you again ๐Ÿ™‚

    Seem to be a great place for birding ๐Ÿ™‚ I would like it!

    • dNambiar
      17 February 2018 at 4:30 pm
      Leave a Reply

      ๐Ÿ™‚
      I’m sure you’ll love the place, Monika. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • magiceye
    20 February 2018 at 5:27 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautifully captured in pictures and words!

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 11:43 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much, Magiceye. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Sachin Baikar
    20 February 2018 at 6:49 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful pictures ?

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 12:08 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you and welcome here, Sachin.:)

  • joshi daniel
    20 February 2018 at 10:32 pm
    Leave a Reply

    So green and beautiful ๐Ÿ™‚

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 12:09 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Absolutely. ๐Ÿ™‚
      Thank you for stopping by, Joshi. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Yogi Saraswat
    20 February 2018 at 11:40 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Great Clicks! Looks like a beautiful place .

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 12:09 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Yogi.
      It sure is. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jyotirmoy Sarkar
    21 February 2018 at 6:01 am
    Leave a Reply

    Beauty of nature….very eye soothing captures.

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 12:09 pm
      Leave a Reply

      True.
      Thank you, Jyotirmoy. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • rupam { xhobdo }
    21 February 2018 at 6:45 am
    Leave a Reply

    Awesome pics.

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 12:10 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Rupam. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Patrick Stark
    21 February 2018 at 11:54 am
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    On behalf of the staff and the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, we’re glad you visited and made some great memories. Thank you, sincerely, for spreading the word and images of this place we love so dearly. We hope you come back often!

    • dNambiar
      21 February 2018 at 12:15 pm
      Leave a Reply

      It is such a beautiful area. And you guys are doing such a great job, there.
      Thank you so much, Patrick for stopping by and leaving a comment.

  • Alok Singhal
    21 February 2018 at 1:16 pm
    Leave a Reply

    I havenโ€™t been to such a park, but one in Massachusetts which is on the route of annual migration of birds. I can imagine the excitement of seeing a variety there!

    • dNambiar
      22 February 2018 at 9:16 am
      Leave a Reply

      Oh yeah? That sounds interesting.
      I’m suddenly reminded of a post I read on somebody following the migration of Monarch butterflies somewhere in South America. Just reading that was a great experience. ๐Ÿ™‚

      This place in Washington, was so, so refreshingly green. And the birds and animals we spotted were such lovely surprises. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thank you, Alok. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Rahul Bhatia
    21 February 2018 at 9:49 pm
    Leave a Reply

    So serene and blissful!

    • dNambiar
      22 February 2018 at 9:16 am
      Leave a Reply

      That’s exactly what it was. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Lady Fi
    24 February 2018 at 2:45 am
    Leave a Reply

    Wow – what a great adventure. Fabulous shots too.

    • dNambiar
      26 February 2018 at 9:43 am
      Leave a Reply

      ๐Ÿ™‚
      Thank you, Lady Fi.

  • myfashionbay
    28 February 2018 at 7:53 am
    Leave a Reply

    Nice Pictures!

    • dNambiar
      28 February 2018 at 6:05 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Rachna.

  • Bair Island: All you need to know for a hike there | Tipsy from the TRIP
    17 February 2020 at 8:59 pm
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    […] you like this place you might also want to see:Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge – So Verdant, So Rich (Washington […]

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    […] ArtSt. Helens: Following the lava path back up to the volcanoA quick look: Washington State CapitolRidgefield Wildlife Refuge: So Verdant, So RichSeeing Seattle from Space (Needle)The road to Mount […]

  • Catching the Light: Ridgefield Sunrise | Tipsy from the TRIP
    27 January 2021 at 11:22 am
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    […] known for being home to Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. You and make a trip to this wetland area by visiting this auto tour of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.For now, here are more pictures of a morning sky and glowing clouds from that part of the Pacific […]

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