William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge Reviews

Nice variety of trails. Mill Pond trail takes you along a stream where you can see river birds. Always a pleasant places to spend several hours.

Finley is both a refuge and a historic site. Trails, and some accessible paths make this place work for most. Bring the binoculars and camera. They need to think the elk herd and refrain from mowing in extreme fire danger. They had a large fire there the last time I was there (aug 2015)

The skeeters come in swarms
Otherwise it is great!
Sasquatch sightings are common in Oregon, more likely to be a hairy college gal out on a liberating drunken terror through the swamp in the moon light.

Check out the elk, geese, wood ducks and beautiful views. Bring binoculars and get out of your car and walk around

I love to just sit and listen to all the geese the sound is so amazing. the walking trails are perfect for a nice afternoon walk

Gorgeous scenery. Birders everywhere. The boardwalk area is great and very easy to walk on. Certainly a top pick to take guests to and a great one when your group has varying mobility.

If you are looking for a quiet gentle walk/hike this place is for you! Beautiful well cared for paths meander through this beautiful refuge that allows us to experience a variety of birds including (on occasion) Bald Eagles! You may also be lucky enough to spot the Elk herd that regularly grazes through the neighboring pastures.

if you like animals, wildlife, flowers and a want to be outside without many people, this is the place to go. The bathrooms are clean, the walking trails marvelous, and the animals plentiful! What I wouldn't do again is go out the backside of the park as it goes out into a very steep a winding narrow road without guardrails(!) But it is amazing spot and it's free!

Since I live in Corvallis, Finley NWR is very close. My wife and I have been birding there often through the years. The variety of bird life is impressive there. It is not uncommon for us to see at least 30 different species on a drive-through. There are very pleasant places to hike, and often you will not encounter another human. We did encounter a Bobcat once, but he was more afraid of us than we of him. I highly recommend a visit to Finley NWR if you visit the Corvallis area.

Nice hiking trails, water birds most of the year, lots of other birds to see, a really great place to spend time whether you're walking/hiking or having a picnic. Forest, grassland, marsh, bird blinds, boardwalk, by foot or in the car. Bring your binoculars, camera, and your open eyes and ears. You'll see a lot most times of the year. Leave the dog at home, tho, 'cause it is a wildlife refuge.

We've used this Wildlife Refuge for decades, walking the kids since they were even too young to walk. Winter, summer, anytime, you can catch a mud-free walk amongst fields and trees, and enjoy a picnic too. A couple of the trails are seasonally closed, but at least one is open 12 months per year.

This is a great place to view ... whatever is visible at the time. We have been to Finley at various times of the year and have seen elk, deer, huge flocks of geese, ducks, hawks, gophers, ground squirrels, owls, wood ducks, and sparrows.

I took my Engagment pictures at Finley! They turned out absolutely beautiful! I hike there often and it's a nice quite hike rarely coming across others and when you do everyone is so polite! I enjoy the "river/pond" you see great wildlife once I saw a river otter

It was uncrowded, quiet, and peaceful. There is no charge to get into the park. We stopped at a park billboard to get a map of the trails. We hiked around the lake, and saw several species of birds and plants. It was enjoyable.

We took a student from Thailand and she was excited to see so many birds. We saw many geese (both Canada geese and Brandt's geese) several varieties of ducks, bald eagles, swans, cormorants, red shafted flickers, and a whole flock of varied thrushes.

I enjoyed the various habitat types that were managed for the varied wildlife on the Refuge. There are informational kiosks and signs providing background behind the scenes. A lot of effort has gone into restoring native habitat types to promote endangered species.

This refuge is specifically aimed at helping Canada Geese along their migratory route back to Alaska, but there's a wide range of animals, insects, and birds that frequent the site. There's a nice auto-route -- a bit bumpy but not bad. The refuge does have a visitors center, but the gift shop is only open on weekends.

If you pick your days well and the season you can see the most amazing array of birds. Early morning is greatt!
I took my mobile Tascam and some field micd as early as they allow to get the excited energy of the "dawn chorus". Its great for walking solo to enjoy the xide expanse of grassy preserve.

Finley is by far my favorite place to hike in Corvallis Oregon. They have many nice trails. One which walks alongside a large pond. We've even seen fish. To name a few animals we've seen, cranes, birds, cougars (I haven't seen one but my sister has), cows, and carp. They have many fruit trees that you can eat from. Pears and plums are most abundant. :) They also have a tour of
their REAL 19th century house.

Mostly recently we drove through and hiked in Finley, enjoying the gradual shift from hot summer to warm fall. We hiked a delightful trail through brought us to a hidden lake. Given the time of year, the migrating birds that inhabit the Refuge in the winter had not yet arrived.

Year round place to go. Great hiking and walking. Great birding. On a rainy day you can just bring your binoculars and watch from the car. Diverse. Well maintained.

The best times to visit here are in the spring and fall to see birds migrating through or in the winter to see huge flocks of wintering Canada geese. Best to call the HQ before going to see what's "in season". Summer an be sort of slow. They have a nice open house in the spring. Roads are dirt so don't plan on riding your road bike around. I'm not sure they're hot on folks riding mtn bikes around either, at least off the roads. They have great viewing stands and some well laid out paths through woods and fields. You can experience open fields, oak savannas, oak-conifer forests. Spring is the best time for most flower viewing. Bring binoculars and your camera.

Lots of very pretty trails, I recommend Woodpecker Loop. The Pigeon Butte hike isn't that nice, but it did have okay views.

'Finley' is a great place to view overwintering wildfowl in the Willamette valley. The majority of the park is actually closed late fall to early spring but McFadden Marsh offers excellent viewing for the many wildfowl species overwintering. Other trails are open with Woodpecker Loop (and other trails) being accessible throughout the year. Summer months allow for greater penetration into the more interior portions of the park but don't expect to find well trodden paths should you decide to be more adventuresome. Bobcat, Elk, Nutria, Bullfrogs, various Birds of Prey, and such can all be seen for the diligent and the lucky. Bring a good pair of binoculars, insect repellent, and clothes you won't mind getting dirty should you get off the beaten path.

I decided to visit this place since I was told that I might see some beavers here. Although I failed to spot wild beavers, I saw a bunch of Roosevelt Elks. The creature was gorgeous! The dirt road was passible by two-wheel car, but this may change depending on the weather or the condition of road after some severe weather.

It's all about the dusky Canada goose! a wonderful, well-kept and well-managed refuge; lots of places to walk and watch the birds and sometimes you can see Roosevelt elk. Fantastic place to visit and support.

Except for some very nice blackberries, not much is going on in the park in August. Don't go in on Bruce road as it is rough gravel. I will give it another try in the fall.

Large number of Canada geese from mid-Oct. to Mar. Thousands. Love the sound. Some nice hiking in tuhe summer.

Easy walks, nice boardwalks and trails. Lush lichens and varied trees, flowers and plants and birds.

The wide array of waterfowl and other wildlife found on a network of trails and informative Kiosks is amazing. Your staff is very knowledgable and eager to help finding the best viewing sights on the refuge..

This National Wildlife Refuge provides a wealth of opportunities for people to utilize. There are very short trails to ones reaching 4-6 miles. No matter which one you chose you will have the opportunity to view a wide selection of wildlife. One must visit the site year round because the animal population continues to change. The paths are well marked. Be sure to stop at the gift store once you reach the headquarters.

About 20 min South of Corvallis off Rt 99W
.....Quiet Lane with Vista points for binoculars or camera.... Turtle Flats is 3 min walk to water edge... So quietly and slowly so as not to scare ducks away. Beautiful natural wood sculptures where wildlife rest. Back to your car and head on to Homer Campbell Memorial
Board walk... Just amazing sights of Moss draped trees... Keep going down Lane that borders the wetland and you'll see Canadian geese, maybe a Blue Heron.
There are building, other short trails, a gift shop that is open weekends, I think

. Very nice peaceful preserve. Enjoy!

Great hiking and bird watching area. Numerous areas to see animals as well. Bring binoculars and you’ll be amazing at the different species of birds. There are benches to rest and soak in the area. There are enough different trails and lengths to accommodate any persons ability or age. Rest room are available and there’s a small gift shop. If the temperature is above 75 degrees you’ll want to bring a hat. There is a variety of trail types as well that put you under canopy or right out next to the ponds. It will take multiple trips to take in everything this gem has to offer.

Good hiking trails. Various options on trails. Disappointed in no wildlife, especially birds. Friendly and knowledgeable staff

The Jomer Campbell trail is wheelchair accessible and leads to a beautiful pavilion overlooking the lake where we saw a flock of white pelicans

I love the hikes at FWLR - good trails and so much to see. However, I have yet to see an elk herd. What is the best season to do that? What time of day? what location (meadow, marsh..)? It's mid-June, so I'm hoping I can get some elk-sighting in before the fall.

I have really enjoyed visiting Finley NWR over the past few years. It's just a short drive from Corvallis, but it feels like stepping so far away from the busy college town. The rolling hills and forests are clearly a patchwork of old farmland and regrowth forest. In fact, the refuge offices are housed in one of the old farmhouses. The visitor traffic is fairly light, so you have a good chance of having the trails to yourself. Bring your binoculars or long camera lens and check out the birds. Take a long walk on the trails and see how many other animals you can spot. In the fall, there's a decent herd of elk that makes an appearance.

Miles of trails, woods, wetlands, migratory wild birds, plan to set aside a few hours to experience the natural Willamette valley. Very Quiet, off the beaten path.

Awesome place to see migrating birds and other wildlife. Particularly attractive for photography. The old house and barn are favorite subjects.

The refuge was established for waterfowl and they do a great job providing habitat for them. They also have some of the remaining areas of oak savannah that used to dominate the Willamette Valley.

This Refuge is close to Corvallis and Eugene! For nature lovers visiting Eugene (as we were), & who want more “nature” beyond that offered by parks in the city – a “must see” is the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge (5,325 acres) – less than an hour’s drive north of Eugene. It’s a little tricky to get to, since there are so few Refuge signs to point the way. However, just go “north 7.5 miles from Monroe to mile marker 93 on Highway 99W,” and “watch for Refuge entrance signs along roadsides.” Look for Finley Road, and turn left off Highway 99W, and the road will lead you to the Refuge Office & Nature Store where you can get more detailed maps of the trails, & browse the gift shop for some awesome T-shirts, jewelry, and books. Also available is a “Seasonal Checklist of Birds of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex.” We enjoyed the boardwalk trail which led through a mossy-trunked, Tolkien-like forest – with long hoary lichen ”beards” ringed with bird song and butterflies – that eventually opened to a lake with stunning White Pelicans. From there, the trail looped through a more open woodland, back to the parking lot, with lots of wildflowers to see along the way. The “Woodpecker Loop” trail was also fun to do, and took us about an hour to walk. It includes some moderate uphill hiking, but rewards you with amazing views and a variety of the Willamette Valley’s historic habitats. A warning, though, for the Woodpecker Loop: stay on the trails, because off-trail - there is a LOT of Poison Oak! But the wildlife & walk are worth it!

Finley is such an amazing place to either drive through or when it's open, to go hiking on extensive trails. We happened to be lucky enough to see a bobcat not 30 feet away.

We visited twice before it was open for the summer and therefore cannot offer opinions on all that was available but what we saw was tremendous. On the first occasion the goose population was spooked from the opposite side of the water and gradually all took off until several thousand geese were darkening the sky. Amazing sight, next time we visited they had almost all moved on, but there was much else to see. Easy access and a nice little visitor centre. A good day out to see some wildlife, particularly now more of the paths are open.

A great place to hike, watch birds, and if your lucky view a herd of elk. And if your interested in botany, the reserve has a remnant of wet prairie habitat with several rare endemic plants that are quite rare. Enjoy.

Wonderful retreat so close to Corvallis and the mid-valley. Lots of trails, well maintained and abundant wildlife to view. Great family outing.

No wonder the wildlife loves this place! It's where I go when I need to de-stress. Great for birding. They say the elk live here, but so far I haven't spotted any. My favorite time to go is when the geese are there. It's awe-inspiring to see thousands of these birds take off and land. I miss them when they leave our area in mid-April. This is one of my favorite places.

This refuge is a great habitat for birds and other wildlife. There is a wide variety from grasslands to small lakes and streams. There is a forest with a great boardwalk. There is a good road for getting around the refuge and hiking trails. I easily spent several hours walking around the refuge enjoying its beauty and bird life.

We got here around noon. The start of the hike was hard to find as our Garmin GPS took us to the center of the park. The park store is open Friday - Sunday only.
The hike was very nice. We did the Mill hill loop hike. It was nice and shaded and we were the only ones on the hike. Unfortunately, because if the time we were there, we saw a grey bird and grass snake only.

Nice place to visit and take children. Has definite educational value for your children. Not a dog friendly place. But it is nice.

Largely undeveloped wildlife viewing (birding) area. Dusty gravel roads over much of the area. Nice hike on the woodpecker loop trail.

Driving into Finley, you quickly leave forget the noise of the man-made world and start attuning to the natural. Every season has different sounds.- I'm not a naturalist so I won't attempt to paint the picture, but every time I visit, I am calmed by the beauty of the place.

Geese landing and feeding, orange-bellied newts slipping into the water, wind blowing grasses and trees - all these I can remember and bring me back to a sense of calm despite not visiting for years.

Drive through and view without even leaving your car or park and take a hike. There is usually a blue herron in one of the ponds and geese around. Wildflowers are blooming in the spring and add a lot of bright color to the rolling hills and meadows. Its always fun to bring the camera and see what we can find to photograph.

The Finley Wildlife Refuge is an excellent natural area, particularly for bird and elk watching. There are many viewpoints along the refuge's many gravel roads. Avoid the area during heavy rains, though. This is usually the first place in the area to flood.

I live near the refuge and enjoy hikes on a regular basis. There is always a new wildlife experience each time
I go. Sadly much of the refuge will be closed off beginning November 1 due to annual closure. Of course this is in the best interest of the wildlife for which the refuge was established. The elk herd is gorgeous if you get a chance to spot them.

Finley is one of our favorite places to visit to bird-watch and just relax on a sunny afternoon. Nice hiking trails and varied sections keep the refuge interesting to visit year-round.

Great place to see the caged birds, pick blackberries in season, catch disappointingly small fish and enjoy Oregon's great outdoors.

Finley is a beautiful wildlife refuge year round. My favorite time to go is in the winter when all the ducks, swans, and Canada geese are there. In the spring it's covered in flowers. In the summer, the wetlands are low and it's easy to see frogs. There are lots of different trails and viewing areas throughout the refuge, so there's lots of places to explore!

We arrived on a wet Friday, cold and misty, perfect weather to visit a bird sanctuary. We were very thankful to have found this place seventeen miles South of Corvallis. Roads are clearly marked, staff/volunteers are courteous, patient and tell the tourists good things about this environment, and outbuildings are cool to photograph. We loved our experience. Thanks to the folks at Beaver Bowls that recommended the refuge.

On a sunny January day we wanted to take a local hike to get some sunshine. Finley Wildlife Refuge is only about 20 minutes south of Corvallis down Hwy 99. After living in the Willamette Valley all my life I had never visited this great place! It's a bird watching area/nature walk with many different trails and road pull outs. The trails are all very well maintained and people here are respectful of others and the environment. Some of the trails are closed during the winter so we will definitely go back in the spring or summer. We walked the Woodpecker trail which is a nice, easy trail that is around 1 mile long. There's a small parking area and pit toilets. There's a beautiful view looking East towards the Three Sisters halfway up the rail. We also visited the Prairie Lookout where we saw a Red tail Hawk. This is not a place for trail running. There is no fee to visit and you leave feeling very peaceful and serene. You can enjoy the refuge from your car as well if you don't feel like hiking.

Great place to view seasonal birds and nice wide-open views great for a car trip or a hike. Great place for seasonal Birds and checking migration patterns. A nice quiet place to go

It's a beautiful place. We only saw a few birds. Seems that the winter is the best time to visit this area because it is full of Canadian geese and elk.

great place for walks bird watching etc i like to go in early morning and hopefully see the elk i love to go and just walk peaceful usually quiet relaxing

Finley wildlife refuge is internationally famous for birding. It also provides wildlife viewing (Elk, Fox, coyotes, etc), walking paths, hiking trails and a small gift shop.
Come out and enjoy something different every season!

This gem of a refuge offers hiking and walking trails, bird hides, seasonally protected areas, historic buildings, a Ranger office with clean restrooms and a gift shop, and a long winding driving area. Elk, geese, migratory song and water birds, and many more animals can be seen throughout the park. Some trails are bordered with wild blackberries, pears, apples and plums, which attract many birds and are heavenly to walk through when ripe and fragrant. I try to walk here every time I visit my daughter who attends OSU. The Finley Refuge works with local farmers to balance grain production with thousands of migratory Canada geese. My favorite area is by the big red barn with the swallow nests under the eves. Beautiful.

The number of hikes here is impressive. You could spend an entire day and hike several miles through many types of terrain from views on buttes to marshlands. We saw several of my "favorite" birds such as a Pileated Woodpecker, Lazuli Buntings and Western Tanagers-- as well as the "typical" ones like Wood Ducks and several types of Sparrows. It was quiet-- you could hear the bird songs very well. Trails are well marked and many interpretative signs. The gift shop is only open on Friday, Sat and Sun for limited hours so if that is your goal plan ahead to go there when open. Otherwise enjoy the wide open spaces. As you read of course some trails are open seasonally only in the spring and summer.

I live in Eugene and do a great deal of work in Corvallis. I've traveled the stretch of Hwy 99 between Monroe and Corvallis hundreds of times. I decided one time to take the time to pass through Finley Refuge. Absolutely one of the best decisions ever. I've likely hiked 100+ miles out there and spend as much free time there as possible. There are many variations for hiking, from flat areas in marshland to hills with deciduous and coniferous trees. The bird life is awesome. There are many lookout areas to spend time with your binoculars or spotting scope to get a closer look. It's not rare to not see another person on your hike. One highlight is the wooden boardwalk that meanders roughly 1/2 mile through a gorgeous forest, reminiscent of the deep south with all of the mosses. The beauty of this boardwalk is that it can accommodate the width of a wheelchair. I recently met a friend who's father is confined to a wheelchair at Finley. He was brought to tears by the experience. In younger years had spent much time in the outdoors and hasn't been able to do so for almost 20 years. I would highly suggest the boardwalk for those who want to do something special with those who have accessibility concerns.

I have spent several days at Finley NWR. In fact, I have driven in and camped in my camper (like a mobile birding blind) 6 or 8 times at one of the pull offs (SE Corner) , but I was probably lucky not to have been run off. (It's not gated.)

This is a great place to see wildlife and has some neat real easy little walks around various parts of the refuge. A way different place in winter with lots of water than in summer. A resident herd of elk, some old settler's homes and barns. A fun place to go and think about what it must have been to have arrived in this area in the 1800's and claimed this as one's homestead.

First timers should take the north east entrance from 99W and drive to the visitors center (big brand new one) one west side.

How lucky can we get here in the Willamette Valley to have this wonderful resource right in our own backyard?! There are plenty of trails to explore and wildlife to view the year around. Among the highlights: the raised, wooden walk out Homer Campbell Trail leading to Cabell Marsh, with plenty of honking Canada geese overhead in the fall and winter; watching for Roosevelt Elk sightings as they blend in with the native landscape; visiting with the friendly and knowledgeable rangers and staff at the headquarters building and gift shop, or bird watching from the Prairie Overlook. There's always something to see or to explore while spending time with Nature in this great national wildlife refuge.

This place is huge, and there are so many trails to choose from - different lengths. We walked the Woodpecker Trail - 1.1 miles - and while we didn't see any woodpeckers, we did experience some precious wildflowers, and awesome trees, ferns and other plants. Very pleasant stroll on a sunny afternoon.

Great for bird watching, or just strolling through the refuge and enjoying the outdoors. Boardwalks provide less muddy walkways during the wetter months.

They have some good trails here. Ponds, a small lake. They have a handi-capped trail that is very accessable and goes for maybe 1/4 mile to a over look to a lake. Very scenic. Also alot of geese at differnt times of the year, Rabbits, Reptiles & Amphbians. I have even seen a Bald Eagle over the lake alng with the plantiful other waterfoul. There is a road that also goes through the length of the refuge.

One of the 'great' wildlife refuges!
I love coming here any time of year. There are vast meadows, hidden watery trails and so much more to explore.
Just outside of Corvallis, OR Finley Widlife Refuge is immediate 'wilderness'
PS
I shouldn't tell you this, but the stars at night here - esp on a warm summer night
are off the charts incredible.
Sadly, there are only certain times that it is 'ok' to visit Finley in the dark. However!!! Donations of time and money can fix this.
Or that's what I've been told.
Consider vistiing this great place and then putting it on your yearly gift giving contributions. It's worth more than every penny. This place is a meditative sanctuary of constant beuty and education of nature.

It isn't a huge preserve, but bring your duck ID book - bird watching here is terrific and it is generally very uncrowded.

This is a major stop for birds heading from north to south and back again. It is in the Willamette flyway. There are cougars, elk, bobcats, deer, possum, raccoon, otter,

The place is accessible in different parts according to nesting seasons. Their are numerous hiking trails and elevated wetland walkways. Go to the website and dig out your binoculars. We attend frequently through the seasons. Flora is super.

Birds, butterflies, and native plants all bring me to Finley. Grab your guide books and your hiking boots. Very easy trails. There are several different habitats which are nicely labelled with informational placards. Oak savannah, forests, ponds provide sanctuary for migrating birds. This is a great place to bring children to teach them about nature. Woodpecker Loop is one of the best small 'hikes' for kids. Keep in mind that facilities are limited to one or two restrooms with running water, and outhouses posted at trailheads. Pack in your own food, water and snacks. Please keep this area pristine by packing out anything you've brought in. It's a treasure to our community. Thank you!

A wonderful area for hiking , birding and nature. Close to Corvallis and with an interesting history. Short hikes, beautiful landscape and depending on the season good to excellent birding.

What a beautiful place. Great walks and lots of birds.

During a mid-week visit in late July to Corvallis, I visited the Finley Wildlife Refuge and hiked both the woodpecker loop trail and the mill hill loop trail. Lovely vistas, a wide range of trails of various lengths, and plenty of solitude because you're just far enough off the beaten path to escape the crowds. The woodpecker loop trail was particularly good, with several benches and a covered observation deck midway through the trail. Wildflowers, blackberries on the vine, dry oak and grass areas and lush stream areas provided much to enjoy and lots of variety as well. This is a lovely area, well maintained, and only about 15 minutes south of Corvallis. I highly recommend it!

lots of roads and nature trails posters all over explaining wildlife deer elk birds all over. the lucky one might even see a bob cat

The structures are a bit aged, but the area and wildlife are great. Handicapped access is quite good with fishing. Also quite near is an archery range.

Finley is probably not for the average sightseer but with patience, and a pair of binos you can see a lot: woodpeckers, songbirds and even a occasional bobcat.
Drive slowly and talk quietlyfor best results. Don't miss the trees at the visitors center for songbirds and the oaks along the road for blue birds.

I have been here several times, great place to go blackberry picking, a nice little pond to watch the wildlife and several historic buildings. It would make a wonderful event site. Closed for a bit during hunting season for safety's sake, call before heading out.

There is more wildlife packed into this small area than most people know. You MUST have binoculars, and a spotting scope is nice. The areas are large, and the viewing may be distant. Elk and Bobcat are common. Early morning and late afternoon are good for these animals. Most things are happening in the early morning, try to arrive at sunrise. Photography may be specatacular, and no other viewers have arrived.
Since there are large open areas, you must constantly scan the tree lines for cats and elk. Hiking trails vastly improves your chances for photography and viewing of wildlife. Always stop and politely ask when people with scopes or binoculars seem to have something in view---you may get help. If they seem engrossed and don't respond, quietly retreat.
Listen carefully.....much of the wildlife activity is talking to you; you just need to hear what they are saying.

Free Wildlife Refuge just south of Corvallis is a great visit during winter. Dusky Canadian Geese winter at the Refuge in huge numbers. The small boardwalk just at the south entrance leads to a blind with views of the flocks on the marsh as well as some coots and ducks. A further drive into the refuge and an astonishing number of geese sit on the grassy areas. Quite a sight!

The government shutdown closed the visitor center and bathrooms which was too bad. There are a few porta potties that were still open. But, otherwise, it's a great place to visit in winter.

There is an auto route through the refuge that is open year round; it is mostly gravel/dirt but should be fine for most cars.

Definitely a worthwhile stop in the winter.

If you're any kind of outdoor person this quiet sanctuary is a true must-see treasure. A visit here was my birthday gift last summer, and nature was generous. The summer flock of white pelicans sailed across the pond scooping up fish. A mother otter and her 6 babies swam across. Several great blue herons and common egrets dotted the far shore, with ducks and other smaller birds everywhere.
We come here in all seasons to hike the different trails, and there's always an abundance of wildlife to see and hear - although we have yet to see any turtles, even at Turtle Flats, but the gift center has all kinds of lovely things too.

I like to go here for the peace and Solitude. I always find something to photograph. I especially like it at sunset as the sky colors change and reflect along the lake. There are many types of birds. When I sit still I can get some good photos.

Out of season but still lots of birds and frogs to see and some great walks

I love all the different trails! Woodpecker Loop is my favorite with kids, it is short, but has a lot of different habitats to see, which keeps it interesting for younger kids!

We go to Finely several times every winter and almost always see huge flocks of migratory birds. Dusky geese, swans, and numerous species of ducks. Seeing several thousand geese suddenly lift off the water is an absolutely amazing experience.
The drive through the marshes on Bruce Road (Avenue?) just off of Hwy 99W is a good wet day activity that is only 10 minutes from Corvallis.
Finely is a good place to hike, but beware of poison oak!

Nice, quiet walk thru wetlands. Historically significant farm house. Nice, easy hikes thru the evergreen forest. Gift shop was closed. Limited access to bathrooms.

We have been visiting Finley for over 20 years. We took our boys there when they were toddlers and delighted in the cottontail rabbits that congregated around the headquarters house lawn, then later as young boys when they most looked forward to the newt ponds and finding garter snakes, and now as young men they join us to watch kestrels and harriers hunt, listen to the warble of lazuli buntings in the spring, or enjoy a picnic dinner under our favorite oak. Highly recommend stretching your legs on a trail; We love Woodpecker Loop hike, McFadden Marsh, along with other secret little corners. But even if you just slowly drive the refuge roads, stopping to look and listen for wildlife, it's still a very worthwhile visit. Something different to see every season of the year. Dawn and dusk are our favorite times to visit. Going in the winter provides needed relief by providing expanses of sky and green hills - even when its cloudy and rainy, and hundreds of waterfowl will lift anyone's mood. Dawn in the spring and early summer comes early, but you'll be rewarded with a chorus of birdsong! Summer evenings on the marsh may allow a peek at an otter family. Also a delightful time to soak up the view from the wooden deck around an ancient oak (Woodpecker Loop).
Bring binoculars if you have them!

Magnificent migratory birds land here and can be observed from several blinds. Accessible for all ages, or you can hike to more remote areas. More birds than people for sure.

Great expansive areas as well as wooded areas and lots of water. Flat land and hills mix well. Very good for long walks or short walks. No cost.