Each year from September through April, Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) return to this property to feed and rest. At sunrise and sunset, cranes and other birds fill the landscape with unforgettable sights and sounds. Visitors can enjoy this seasonal spectacle from nearby public areas—don’t forget your binoculars.
Recreational Activities: Birdwatching
Access: Visitors can enjoy viewing cranes and other birds from Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park (parking fee required) and along the multi-use trail. To avoid disturbing the cranes, the property is not open to the public. See this map for the best places to park and view the cranes.
Dogs: Allowed on leash only
Amenities: At Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park and Vancouver Lake Regional Park there are restrooms, drinking fountains, and picnic tables. Both of these Clark County parks require a fee to park a vehicle, but no fee to enter on foot or bicycle.
Trails: There is a paved, 2.5-mile, multi-use trail that connects Frenchman’s Bar and Vancouver Lake Regional Parks.
Acreage: 527 acres
County: Clark County
Nearest Town: Vancouver, WA
Directions: There are three recommended places to park- Frenchman’s Bar hiking trail parking area, the Blurock Landing parking area, and at the southern-most end of Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park (parking fee required). Viewing is best at several points on the paved, multi-use trail as well as the field to the south of Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park. However, viewing is entirely dependent on where the cranes are.
Tips for Visiting: See this map for the best spots to view the cranes. There is no public access allowed on the Cranes’ Landing property, but birding, walking, and biking is available at nearby parks and paths. Please follow posted park rules. Viewing depends on where the cranes are hanging out, which changes seasonally and even daily; sometimes they can be completely hidden from view (which is what the cranes prefer!). So if you don’t see them at first, return later or a different day.
The best viewing times are around dawn and dusk on days that are clear and dry from October through March. When visiting during peak crane season, you will likely also see thousands of Snow Geese, Cackling Geese, Bald Eagles, and many other birds. Bring binoculars and scopes. Please do not disturb the birds or other wildlife, following guidelines for ethical bird photography. Stay on designated roads and paths, do not climb berms, and do not enter farming gates or drive on farming land.
Year Conserved: 2016
About: Since 2016, Columbia Land Trust has farmed nearly 400 acres of this 527-acre site in the Vancouver Lake Lowlands, for the benefit of Sandhill Cranes and other wildlife species. For example, corn is planted in widely-spaced rows so the cranes can better look out for predators and feel safe foraging. Cranes, like many species, are facing habitat loss, and this site is a crucial stopover for resting and feeding for these migratory cranes and other birds along the Pacific Flyway. We closely monitor crane usage here during the winter months when they are present, and use that data to inform the site’s management and future stewardship plans. On our busiest days, we’ve counted over 3,000 cranes utilizing the site! The cranes roost overnight in shallow wetlands, typically on Sauvie Island, Vancouver Lake, or north of Shillapoo Wildlife Refuge, and fly over to Cranes’ Landing to feed and rest during the day, before returning to roost in the evening. Learn more about our work at Cranes’ Landing.
Project Partners: Port of Vancouver, CRANE