Snag Boat Bend

Snag Boat Bend is located off Peoria Road, just south of the town of Peoria. There is a parking area with a vault toilet. From the parking lot, visitors can hike a boardwalk trail to an observation platform or observation blind. Currently, there is no river access from the parking area.

Snag Boat Bend is a 340-acre refuge for wildlife throughout the year. During the winter months, geese and ducks use the refuge as a place to find food. In the summer, the backwater sloughs provide an opportunity to view Western Pond Turtles, usually situated on logs. Herons and egretscan be seen year-round searching for food, and during the spring months, many ducks raise their young in the riparian habitats along Lake Creek.

Spring Boat Bend is a unique part of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes refuges from Salem to Corvallis. These refuges provide crucial habitat for migratory waterfowl and songbirds, as well as local wildlife such as coyote, elk, and deer.