I needed to get out of town again and though I’d go some where more remote, Othello, WA. The town is not that exciting. On the town web site they state that half of the nations french fries are made from potatoes grown in the area. That would explain the giant MaCain processing plant at the end of town and the faint smell of fries coming through my car’s vent system. I also think might have more movies screens per capita than the Tri-cities. They also have a Walmart that is right new the highway. No surprise there.
I wasn’t there to see the town, but to visit the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. About 11 miles out of town you’ll find a marsh area that was formed from water leaking out of a 1930’s irrigation project. I guess you could call it an unintentional oasis. The refuge land management has gone in and made the area into an man made wetland (aka marsh or swamp).
The trails are easy consisting of two loops for a total of about 4-5 miles. The Frog Lake trail loops up to a mesa giving a lovely view of the hollow and the Marsh Loop circles around some of the ponds. I was finishing up my walk around sunset and all of the birds were settling in for the night. The area must be a prime birding spot. Even in the winter I saw 3 kinds of ducks, a falcon, ground fowl, robins, a great blue heron, and maybe an eagle (was getting dark and I’m no expert on bird body lines). This is one of the few trails in the refuge near waterfowl nesting areas that is open during the winter.
I took some photos if you’d like to have a look. To get to the trail head take Broadway north out of Othello. Out by the MaCain plant the road name will change to McManamon. After about five miles you’ll see a sign for the refuge on your right on Morgan Lake Road. Head down the road about 4 miles (will switch from paved to gravel) and you’ll find the trail head on your right with parking on the left.
