PNW Natural Areas, a Series
Not to be confused with PNW Gardens, a Series, which are intentional gardens, whether ornamental or mimicking native and natural elements of a place. This list will be natural areas, either always “natural” and preserved, or reclaimed (“re-wilded”) by nature. Many will be national or state run (some parks) and all will include public access in some form. Like other series, these will be in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington.
As entries in the series get completed, I will link to them here—check back for updates!
Washington
Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, Olympia
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Olympia
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield
Catherine Creek Recreation Area, Columbia River Gorge
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Cascade Range
Mt. Rainier National Park and Chinook Pass, Cascade Range
Deception Pass State Park, Puget Sound
Oregon
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon Coast
Ecola State Park, Oregon Coast
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Newport, Oregon Coast
Cape Lookout State Park, Pacific City, Oregon Coast
Shore Acres and Cape Arago State Parks, Charleston, Oregon Coast
McKenzie Pass and Dee Wright Observatory, Springfield to Sisters, Cascade Range
Mt Hood and Timberline, Cascade Range
Fruit Loop and Hood River Valley
Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area and Historic Columbia River Highway
State Trail
While compiling this list, I sometimes had a hard time separating out the lighthouses on the Oregon Coast because many, if not all of them, sit within a scenic and wild area or park. But, in the end, I think they deserve their own article or series.