Marine Drive

Marine Dr runs along the top of the dike that protects the Portland Airport area from floods. You'll find many places to scan the Columbia River for loons, grebes, and diving ducks, as well as Osprey and Bald Eagle. A paved multi-use path that runs alongside the road. Parking areas all along the way offer many viewing points, but one of the most popular birding destinations is Broughton Beach (3 mi E of I-5, just past Salty's Restaurant). Park in the large gravel lot on the S side of the road, cross, and take the path E. The 1.25 mi walk to the Sea Scout Base passes through a small but productive patch of short-grass habitat on sandy soil, which is a wintertime magnet for American Pipit, Horned Lark, Western Meadowlark, and rarely Snow Bunting or Lapland Longspur. The river here is also good for water birds: five species of grebes have been seen. Short-eared Owl is sometimes seen along the beach or hunting over the airport grounds in the winter. Be alert that traffic along Marine Dr is dangerous, as drivers go fast on the narrow road. Marine Dr can be reached from Exit 307 off I-5, or by taking the 122nd Ave or 223rd Ave exits N from I-84.