Pacific Northwest Trip: Birding & Hiking the Rogue Valley
The Rogue Valley sits at a major confluence geologically, botanically, and climactically, with dry open scrub, high mountain conifer forests, and lush wildflower meadows. On this four-day, van-based trip we’ll explore a variety of those habitats, from grasslands that may hold Grasshopper Sparrow and Oregon Vesper Sparrow, to mountain forests and prairies, where Great Gray Owl breed (but require luck to see), and the famous Oak forests of Southern Oregon that teem with Acorn Woodpecker and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Along the way we’ll hope for chance encounters with Northern Mockingbird, Black Phoebe, and other local favorites.
Several of the areas we’ll visit feature beautiful hikes of up to three miles, and we’ll expect to hike 4-5 miles per day, at a naturalist’s pace, to gain an up-close appreciation of the fascinating natural history here. On the first day, we’ll visit the Rogue River itself, outside of Grants Pass, where Wrentits play peekaboo in the willows.
On our next day we’ll venture up the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument for a scenic hike, enjoying wildflowers and butterflies, before heading to the Howard Prairie Lakes region, and its large meadows and open water habitats.
On our third day we’ll visit the dry habitats of the valley, home to charismatic species like California Towhee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Oak Titmouse. And on our final day, we’ll journey up Mt. Ashland in search of montane species like Green-tailed Towhee and Cassin’s Finch, before starting the trip back north to Portland, where we hope to arrive by 6 pm.
