Trip Report
Cowen & Ravenna Parks
My dog and I enjoyed 25 bird species and a muddy walk through Cowen Park and Ravenna Ravine. The take-away species were four woodpeckers and a barred owl; skunk cabbage and bleeding hearts are in bloom.
Courtenay Schurman
- Wed, Apr 9, 2025
- Cowen & Ravenna Parks
- Day Hiking & Naturalist
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The trail is quite muddy in places, and I wasn't a fan of big school groups using the path for biking. We parked on the west side of Cowen Park on side streets; I got boxed in pretty tight on my return, but managed to squeak out of the parking spot without dinging another car.
We hiked down the ravine to the easternmost extent of the park, splitting time on the north and south rims on our walk back. We saw several school groups and a handful of joggers, with the occasional homeless person and a foursome playing Pickleball.
My dog and I took advantage of a break in the weather to bird in Ravenna Ravine and Cowen Park this morning. Among the 25 species we recorded were 4 woodpeckers (hairy, downy, pileated, and flicker) and a barred owl being mobbed by at least 6 crows. It flew before I could get my camera ready.
Skunk cabbage and bleeding hearts are in bloom. All told, our 2.5-mile round-trip walk took us about an hour. This was a make-up for my canceled Annette Lake - I'd rather bird in the dry than suffer in a downpour!
