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Wildlife & Birding in Wenatchee & The Columbia River Valley

Departing Cashmere, continue to follow the Wenatchee River toward its confluence with the massive Columbia River. The surrounding shrub steppe foothills and waterfront riparian zones provide shelter and feeding grounds to diverse wildlife. This area is also home to three designated Wildlife Areas: the Home Water Wildlife Preserve at the heart of the Sage Hills trail system west of Wenatchee, the Horan Natural Area located adjacent and north of Walla Walla Point Park, part of Wenatchee's Apple Capital Loop Trail, and the Swakane Wildlife Area just south of Entiat. 

Continue on the byway until you reach the Entiat River Valley easily located by taking a left off of US-97A. Keep your eyes wide open as you make the journey toward the Entiat turnoff, however, as Bighorn Sheep can often be seen on the cliffs to the left of the roadway and even at times, on or near the roadway!

Wildlife Viewing

Merriam's Shrew, American Pika, Snowshoe Hare, Nuttal's Cottontail, Jackrabbit (Black-Tailed and White-Tailed), Coast Mole, Muskrat, Beaver, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Cascade Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk (Townsend's, Yellow Pine and Least), Squirrel (Grey, Douglas and Northern Flying Squirrel), North American and Northwestern Deer Mouse, Western Harvest Mouse, Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Pacific Jumping Mouse, Bushy-Tailed Woodrat, Vole (Montane, Long-Tailed, Water, Southern Red-Backed, Western Heather and Sagebrush), Porcupine, Northern Pocket Gopher, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Coyote, Red Fox, Black Bear, Raccoon, Mink, American Marten, Northern River Otter, American Badger, Striped Skunk, Deer (Mule and Black-Tailed), Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep

Osprey overlooking the Columbia River (Freund's Photography)

Western Meadowlark

Key Birding Locations

Confluence State Park (Discover Pass required)

Riparian and wetland complex at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers. 

220+ birds and species to view here!

Warbler (Yellow-Rumped, Orange-Crowned, Nashville and MacGillivray's), Rock Wren, Sparrow (Lincoln's White and Golden-Crowned), Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Wilson's Snipe, Gray Catbird, Bullock's Oriole, Common Loon, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Teal (Cinnamon and Green-Winged), Wigeon (American and Eurasion), Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Downy Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Swallow (Violet-Green, Barn and Tree)



Entiat Wildlife Area: Swakane Canyon
19,200 shrub-steppe canyon with ponderosa pine, creek side deciduous foliage

Western Wood-Pewee, Say's Phoebes, Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Brewer's Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, Western Meadowlark, Black-Billed Magpie, Mourning Dove, Golden Eagle, Chukar

(Pictured - Western Meadowlark, Freund's Photography)

Entiat Park 
16-acre park at confluence of the Entiat and Columbia Rivers with willows and cottonwoods

Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Merganser (Common and Hooded), American Dipper, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Western Wood-Pewee, Bullock's Oriole, Cedar Waxwing


Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center
10-acres of sagebrush and ponderosa pine

Western Tanager, Bullock's Oriole, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Mountain Chickadee, Say's Phoebe, White-Crowned Sparrow, Western Kingbird, Pine Siskin, Canyon Wren, Steller's Jay, Black-Billed Magpie, California Quail, Eagles (Bald and Golden).

Birding Guide
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Wildlife Guide
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Field Guides
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Wenatchee Valley Lodging, Dining, Activities & Info
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