Download the flyer for Fall 2025 Field Trips
Portland Japanese Garden
The field trip for the Fall NPPNW Conference will be held on Friday 7 November in the Portland Japanese Garden, situated in Washington Park in Northwest Portland (https://japanesegarden.org/). The 12-acre Garden has been described as the world’s finest example of a Japanese Garden outside of Japan. The cost of the tour is $20, payable during on-line registration. Advance registration is required. Those wishing to use a tripod will need to pay an additional $10 fee at the entrance.
We will be accessing the Garden at 8 AM, before opening hours for the general public, which begin at 10 AM. Sunrise on that day will be around 7 AM which should give us nice morning light if the clouds cooperate. Fall color should be near its peak, with trees in the Garden turning shades of crimson and gold.
The garden has a small parking area that should have space available at the 8 AM hour, but car-pooling is strongly encouraged. The entrance is about a 30-minute drive from the Columbia Riverfront Holiday Inn.
There is a short climb from the entrance to the main garden area involving stairs and a sloping path. For those who rather not make that climb, there is a free shuttle service running every 5 to 10 minutes. Some of the pathways within the Garden also involve some changes in elevation, but there are ample photo opportunities for those who wish to avoid uphill walks.
Saturday meeting.
Disclaimer
You will be asked to agree with this waiver when you register. Please read it in its entirely before you register.
In consideration of my desire to voluntarily participate in the photographic field trip, I waive and release any and all rights and claims for losses and damage that I may have against Nature Photographers of the Pacific Northwest and field trip organizers/leaders arising out of this activity. This release shall be binding upon our representative, successors and assignees.
Furthermore, I acknowledge that providing personal accident insurance and payment of any medical expenses I may sustain due to participation in the aforementioned activity is my responsibility.
In the event that I may require emergency medical treatment while participating in the previously mentioned activities, I hereby authorize field trip organizer/leaders to contact emergency medical personnel on my behalf. Any medical or other needs that may be necessary, including transport by ambulance, as determined by medical personnel, will be payable by myself and my health insurance.
Self-guided Photo Tours
In addition to the Japanese Garden tour, we are highlighting two additional self-guided tours, one in the Ridgefield NWRon the Washington side of the Columbia River, another in the Crystal Spring Rhododendron Garden in Portland. You do not need to register for these tours with NPPNW but simply access them on your own. Photos taken on Friday on these two tours, as well as those from the Japanese Garden tour, can be submitted for showing during the Saturday session of the Conference the following day.
Ridgefield NWR
Ridgefield is accessed via a three-mile one-way loop auto tour of the Refuge. During fall and winter, visitors are required to remain in their cars on the loop tour, though you can traverse the loop multiple times. There are pullouts where you can pause to shoot from your vehicle. The Refuge comprises wetlands and ponds adjacent to the Columbia River that feature an abundance of waterfowl in the fall, including sandhill cranes, herons, ducks, and geese. It is generally open from sunrise (7:00 AM on 7 November) to sunset (4:49PM).
A $3 entry fee is required, payable at the entrance A variety of Federal passes are also valid for entry.
Additional information at https://ridgefieldfriends.org/ and https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ridgefield.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
This delightful little garden in the heart of Portland features a burst of Rhodie color in the spring, but also brims with waterfowl in the fall. A short network of easy walking paths takes one by the Garden’s various water features and their waterfowl. Open hours are 10 AM to 5 PM. General admission is $9; $8 for seniors. More information at https://www.crystalspringsgardenpdx.org/.