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Baskett Slough Refugewinter wildlife

Wildlife refuge

At Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, thousands of migratory waterfowl on the wetlands in the winter, per the Fish and Wildlife Service (a season, not a peak). Its usual window for this year has passed.

Updated

Sources for this timing ↓
Local timing
In the winter
General timing for this place: not a peak date, and not a forecast.

About Baskett Slough Refuge

What it is
A wildlife refuge in Oregon
A little history
Established in 1965 in the Willamette Valley refuge complex, mainly to give dusky Canada geese a place to winter.
What you'll see
Winter waterfowl · in the winter
Before you go
Which trails are open in winter? Only the Highway 22 kiosk and the Rich Guadagno Memorial Trail: every other trail is closed October 1 through March 31 as a sanctuary for wintering dusky Canada geese and other waterfowl.
Sources (2)

Your guide to the area

Best spots and nearby places
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census; spot positions agency pages.

Where to watch

Nearby

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Worth the drive · more than 60 miles

The year at Baskett Slough Refuge

  • Fender's blue butterflies in flight on Baskett Buttemid May to early June
  • Cinnamon teal, common yellowthroats and coyotes at Morgan Lake and the Baskett Butte Loopsummer
  • Thousands of migratory waterfowl on the wetlandswinter

Questions people ask

When is the best time to see wildlife at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge?

Thousands of migratory waterfowl on the wetlands in the winter, per the Fish and Wildlife Service (a season, not a peak): in the winter. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.

Is it wildlife season at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge right now?

Not now: its usual winter wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: in the winter, local timing.

Which trails are open in winter?

Only the Highway 22 kiosk and the Rich Guadagno Memorial Trail: every other trail is closed October 1 through March 31 as a sanctuary for wintering dusky Canada geese and other waterfowl.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where is it?

Outside Dallas, Oregon, at the junction of Highways 99W and 22, with accessible viewing platforms suitable for strollers.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Why was the refuge set up?

Established in 1965 in the Willamette Valley refuge complex, mainly to give dusky Canada geese a place to winter.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge?

Highway 22 Wildlife Viewing Kiosk: a pull-off with interpretive signs and trail brochures; open year-round; Rich Guadagno Memorial Trail: open year-round, where the winter waterfowl can be seen on the wetlands.

What is Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?

Thousands of migratory waterfowl on the wetlands (Dec–Feb), Fender's blue butterflies in flight on Baskett Butte (May–Jun) and Cinnamon teal, common yellowthroats and coyotes at Morgan Lake and the Baskett Butte Loop (Jun–Aug).

How we know · Sources (5)

How we know

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Scenic Overlook (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rich Guadagno Memorial Trailhead Parking (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2)

All our sources and how we use them →