Spring Valley Access – Willamette River Greenway
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Location
From Salem, head west on Hwy 22/Marion St and cross the bridge over the Willamette. Stay in the right hand lane and take the next right for OR-221/Wallace Rd. Follow this road for about 9 miles and turn right into the Spring Valley Access park. Follow the small winding road for about a 1/4 mile to reach the parking area near the river.
Exploring the trails along the edges of the forest and fields, as well as the river bank seem to provide the best birding, but this park needs more exploring.
Here is a map of trails in the park.
Directions
Habitat and Birds
This 177 acre park has a mix of forests and fields along the Willamette River. There are 5 miles of trails to explore, which are fairly under-birded considering its proximity to Salem. The trails can be muddy in winter and spring, so bring boots if you are going that time of year.
Birds to look for include Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Western-wood Pewee, Pacific Wren, Purple Finch, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak and Western Tanager.
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