Adventure to the Jackson-Frazier Wetland

The Jackson-Frazier Wetland is a rare piece of wilderness hidden at the north end of Corvallis. Many people who live in and around the city have never been, or even know of its existence. My brother, John, was one such person, so off we went for the first official adventure of the League of Rogue Explorers.

The entrance to the wetland can be accessed at the end of NE Lancaster St. with parking available at the cul-de-sac.

Aerial Map

John acquaints himself with the literature.

The boardwalk loop weaves among thickets of trees and marshy land dominated by cattails and tall grass. It isn't the season for cattails, so today it was mostly grass ranging up to 2 meters tall with the rare lonely rotting cattail.

John stops to look out over a sea of grass.

There's a lot of signage along the path to educate visitors, though much of it is in ill repair.

Wild roses are one of the more common flowers to see when visiting the wetland. They form large briars that provide cover for many small animals.

I spotted a Camas in bloom and a bumble bee buzzed into frame just as I had knelt to take a picture. Unfortunately, the little lady was shy and kept hidden behind the petals as she worked.

Much of the eastern part of the loop is shrouded in a marshy forest. It made me think of the swamps of Dagobah, though perhaps with a bit more sunlight.

Breath in that nature.

Periodically spaced along the boardwalk loop are benches for those weary of foot. Some provide shade, while most offer beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.

My favorite bench.

There is one part of the loop where the water remains deep throughout the year. There's a little pier out into it where we spotted some dragonflies doing their thing.

The walk around the Jackson-Frazier Wetland is easy and short (~10 to 20 minutes). It's wheelchair accessible and the boardwalk has low but solid barriers which greatly aid in keeping visitors on the path, regardless of their level of ability.

This is an adventure that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and you will likely meet other families along the journey.