Rooster Rock State Park
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Rooster Rock State Park is located 25 miles east of Portland off of I-84. The exit is Exit 25 and there is access from both east and westbound lanes.
Hours: Open 6am-10pm year round. Note: $5 Day Use pass required and usually enforced on weekends and holidays. Annual State Park permit also accepted.
Rooster Rock is a state park situated along the Columbia River about 20 miles east of Portland. A variety of different habitats always make for an interesting visit year-round but can be most productive during migration, especially with east winds, attracting a variety of birds typically found east of the Cascades.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
INFORMATION BELOW PROVIDED BY ANDY FRANK
In Spring on particularly windy days in the gorge, you can sometimes observe visible migration with dozens of passerines moving east. Check the extensive lawns west of the visitor center for groups of sparrows – Lark & Brewer’s have been spotted among the large (for the county) Chipping Sparrow flocks in past years. Flycatchers are drawn to the rocky wall and willow patches and this site can be a good stopover for Western Kingbirds, Say’s Phoebes, and occasionally empids like Gray & Dusky Flycatcher. In April of 2024, Rooster Rock had a bit of a Patagonia Picnic Table moment when a Sage Thrasher was found foraging near the visitor center and birders who chased later in the day found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Loggerhead Shrike, both in the willows between the parking lot and river.
In Summer, human activity like cookouts, boating, and frisbee golf might deter some birds but the woods to the east can have breeding Black-throated Gray Warbler and Purple Finch among other common species, and the willows and beach can attract Willow Flycatchers and in some years, Red-eyed Vireo. Note: there is a clothing optional beach at the east end of the park so be mindful. Later in summer shorebirds and gulls might utilize the sandbars and mudflats depending on water levels and occasionally tide. In July of 2024, a county 3rd Red Knot was found here. Species like Arctic Tern and Franklin’s Gull have also been spotted here in past Augusts.
In Fall, the beach and grassy shoreline can attract species like Horned Lark and Lapland Longspur. In October of 2022, a Chestnut-collared Longspur was found in this area which was the 2nd county record and the likely state first record of the japonicus American Pipit in October of 2019.
In Winter, waterfowl can be found foraging at the marshy edge north of the visitor center and in Mirror Lake, just south of the East-bound 1-84 ramp. Look for large flocks of Tundra & Trumpeter Swans and mixed dabblers. All 3 expected loons can usually be found annually, and both Surf & White-winged Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers spotted here on occasion among other large rafts of expected sea ducks and grebes. Gulls also like to roost on the beach and the pilings, notables from previous winters include Lesser Black-backed & Glaucous Gull.
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