Mill Hill Loop Trail - William L. Finley Wildlife Refuge

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 3.1 miles / 5.0 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

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Overview: Keep an eye out for song birds, banana slugs and tons of elk and deer tracks as you make your way along this wonderful loop hike through varied woods, meadows and past a wetland area. Take the time to enjoy sitting on the benches to observe the wildlife and peace of nature.

Tips: From Corvallis Follow Hwy 99 south for about 8.5 miles from Avery Ave until you see the Refuge Road on the right. Take that road and drive a few miles down the gravel road past the headquarters. You'll drive across open meadows and then come to the Display Pond parking lot.

Points of Interest

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Parking

Park here near display pond. To start the hike walk up the Finley Refuge Road and head into the woods at the InterTie Trail. On the way back you'll take a shortcut back to here.

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Intertie Trail Start

For this trip you will start at the place the Intertie trail crosses the main park road. You will need to park a little further down the road at the Display Pond parking area. There are actually two entrances. This one is the furthest from the parkin glot but its a good place to start and it will match up with my other guide for Woodpecker Loop Trail that you can get to by heading north instead of South on the Intertie Trail.

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Intersection

Here is the intersection with the Trail you can take back to the road as a faster way back after the loop.

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Major Trail Junction

After passing around some private property you'll come to this intersection. You will want to head right onto the Mill Hill Trail.

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Start of Loop Hike

You can head either direction from here but I think going counterclockwise is the best way.

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Bench and trail photos

Throughout this loop hike you will find several benches where you can rest.

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Viewpoint

These open meadows have some nice views of varied woods. Also, keep your eye out for deer or elk tracks.

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Another bench

Here is another bench with great views over this meadow.

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Swampy Grey Creek

Here you will find a bench with some limited views of the very swampy looking Grey Creek below.

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Elk or Deer Destruction

Throughout the trail you may see utter destruction of the woods arond the trail as herds of deer or elk have trampled through the area. It really is amazing the damage to the foliage and ground they leave behind as well as the deep rut in the ground.

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One last bench

One last bench with a viewpoint towards an open area. Most of the elk and deer tracks look like they led in this direction so keep your eye out for them from this bench. From here your just a short way from POI #5. From there just return the way you came. At POI #3 head straight around Display Pond back to your car for a shortcut.