This is a start of a list of Columbia Gorge birding spots, in
Washington State, that I have been compiling. As you can see I wrote
down mileposts and names for some but have yet to write a description.
All of these spots are right along Highway 14, I haven't started on any
of the side roads .

Birding Spots In the Gorge

Delorme Atlas Page 23 - D-8, M.P. 29.9, Highway 14, St. Cloud Ranch,

Delorme Atlas Page 23 - D-8, M.P. 31.5, Highway 14, Franz Lake N.W.R., a
pull off on the south side of the road for a wooden viewing platform
overlooking this backwater of the Columbia Gorge, that is a low marshy
Wapato meadow in the summer. The Wapato or Indian Potato has a starchy
root that is a favorite food of swans, over a thousand gather here during
years when the water level is low enough that they can reach the roots to
grub them out of the mud. Many other species of waterfowl gather in this
wind protected area.

Delorme Atlas Page-23-D-8, M.P. 32.9, Highway 14, Skamania Landing, As
you enter the village of Skamania, with its one General Store watch for
"Skamania Landing Rd." which is a loop road south of the Highway that
crosses the railroad tracks and circles a small impoundment on Duncan
Creek. Because of an agreement to allow fish passage for salmon and
steelhead the dam is opened for months at a time and the lake drained.
This provides a rare habitat type in this county mud flats for
shorebirds. In October of 1997 there were two surf Scoters on this pond.
At the private marina on the East end of the loop there are nest boxes
that are used by Purple Martins.

Delorme Atlas Page-24-D-1, M.P. 38.4, Highway 14, Hamilton Island,
Reached by taking "Dam Access Rd"and. taking the road that leads to the
right. This is not an Island but rather a peninsula that was the
disposals spot for the old town of North Bonneville when it was moved to
make room for the second power-house for Bonneville Dam. It now is a
large, mounded hill covered in grass and attracts Meadowlarks and
bluebirds and at one time had a population of Mountain Quail.

Delorme Atlas Page-24-D-1, M.P. 38.4, Highway 14, Bonneville Dam, Also
reached by taking "Dam Access Rd". and going on the road to the left and
going upstream. Near the base of the dam there is a parking area for
fisherman that allows you to look over the gulls and diving ducks that
gather there. Continue upstream through the visitors parking lot to the
parking spots furthest East. From here walk up the trail to the view
point, in the calm water above the dam there are rafts of loons, grebes,
and ducks. Clark's Grebe is occasional among the fifty or more Western
grebe that use this area.

Delorme Atlas Page-24-D-1.5, M.P. 43.9, Highway 14, Rock Creek Cove, This
backwater of Rock Creek is shallow and weedy as well as wind protected
and closed to hunting. Stop at the pull-off on the south side of the
Highway at the West end of the bridge over Rock Creek. From here you can
scan the waterfowl on the pond with the light to your back. By driving
around to the County Fairgrounds you can get a good view of the rest of
the ducks and geese, for some reason odd birds show up here such as Smew,
Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Shelduck, and Bar-headed Goose.r Check the
snags on the islands for Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcon or Osprey.
Mountain Quail were found once on the brushy peninsulas that jut into the
lake. By climbing up the railroad embankment you can check the shallow
water reefs and rocky islands at the mouth of Rock Creek for diving ducks
such as Goldeneye, Patrick Sullivan was lucky enough to find an Oldsquaw
for the only county record.

M.P. 49.2, Highway 14, Wind River Mouth,

M.P. 50, Highway 14, Home Valley Park,

Delorme Atlas Page-24-D-3.5, M.P. 56.9, Highway 14, Little White Salmon
National Fish Hatchery, Drive up the West side of Drano Lake towards the
hatchery, where the river comes into the lake is a reliable spot for both
goldeneye. Loons, grebes, and Bald Eagle are also found here. Drano Lake
is also good for a variety of ducks including Redhead , these can be
scoped from the pull-offs along the Highway or the Boat Ramp parking lot/

Delorme Atlas Page-25-D-5M.P. 66.5, Highway 14, Bingen Pond And Shoreline
of the Columbia, In the town of Bingen, watch for the Shell Station on
the south side of the highway. On the east side of this gas station go
South on Maple Street towards the Marina, after you cross the railroad
tracks continue going straight. Do not take the road to the left that
leads to the Marina just yet. The road you want is a dirt road on top of
a levee around Bingen Pond, a good spot to find waterfowl including
swans, The grassy fields all around the pond harbor many sparrows and the
willows and cottonwoods are good for warblers including wintering
Yellow-rumps. Drive out the levee road and check the Columbia River,
around the log rafts at the upstream end near the truck scales, Stuart
Johnson, found, a male Tufted Duck in November of both 1995 and 1996.

Delorme Atlas Page-25-D-7, M. P. 82.3 Highway 14, Dallesport Ponds, turn
South on Dallesport Rd., in .6 miles turn left on Williams St., which
merges with Tidyman Rd. At 4 miles from Dallesport Rd. there is a corral
you park at to see the West end of the ponds, which are shallow and
grassy. Other viewing points along this road provide a chance to check
the different habitat types. Where the road bisects the pond, the water
is the deepest, and the ducks are numerous, this side of the road has
several rocky islands that are good for shorebirds including Avocet and
Black-necked Stilt. The part of the pond on the North side of the road is
shallow and weedy with some small islands this is where two pair of
Black-necked Stilts nested in 1997. In another .4 miles there is a small
pond less than a hundred feet off of the road in a pasture, where snipe
and White-fronted Geese are found. Drive on to the stop sign and turn
right and go to Highway 97 drive .6 miles South and park in the pull off
just before the "Spearfish And Hess Park" sign , to the West there is a
pond with mudflats and sandbars for shorebirds and Egrets.
Wilson Cady, 2322 Belle Center Rd.,
Washougal, Wa. 98671
360-835-5947



Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA.
gorgebirds at juno.com
360-835-5947 gorgebirds at juno.com


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