As often as possible, I like to get away from the hustle and bustle of my life as a natural history writer and book reviewer (oh who am I kidding – I just like to get away from the computer and out of the house once in a while) and take a leisurely stroll along a long disused log yarding road near our Scappoose, Oregon home. Officially designated as NE Crown Zellerbach Rd., this twelve-foot wide paved path once allowed timber to be moved between the Multnomah Channel (off the Columbia River) and the rail depot in Scappoose but now serves as a popular community walking path.
Crossing farm fields and through some scrubby vegetation that borders the many small ponds along the road, the road provides an ideal vantage point for viewing a wide variety of birdlife – from ducks, geese, and waders to sparrows, wrens, and warblers (I saw no fewer than three of the latter during the most recent morning I walked the path – Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, and Common Yellowthroat). Of particular interest to many local bird watchers, Sandhill Cranes, when they are in the area, can easily be viewed form the road.
As the road does pass near some personal residences as well as through active farming areas, visitors to the area are encouraged to be respectful of private property and to be sure not to park their vehicles in any location that might block a driveway or hinder the comings and goings of local residents.
View NE Crown Zellerbach Rd., Scappoose, Oregon in a larger map
