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17 · Green River Valley

Flaming Geyser State Park

River frontage, open fields, mixed forest

A big riverside property where the Green River comes out of its gorge: cottonwood river frontage, open farmland edges, and space to actually cover ground. Mergansers ride the current, swallows work the fields, and when the salmon come up in fall the eagles follow. The strongest pick in the valley when you want a longer wander rather than a single stakeout.

Effort Easy · 1–3 mi riverside Flat riverside and field-edge trails; wander as far as you like across the big property.
When to go Fall for eagles on the salmon runs; spring mornings for song along the river. Roomy enough to escape crowds any day.
Access Discover Pass required. 23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd, Auburn. Restrooms at the main lots. Directions eBird hotspot

Birds by season

Curated highlights · the current season is marked

Spring

  • Rufous Hummingbird
  • Violet-green Swallow
  • Band-tailed Pigeon
  • Common Merganser

Song along the river corridor; swallows over the fields.

Summer

  • Willow Flycatcher
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Osprey
  • Common Merganser

Merganser broods ride the riffles.

Fall

  • Bald Eagle
  • Varied Thrush
  • Golden-crowned Sparrow
  • American Pipit

Salmon runs pull the eagles in.

Winter

  • Bald Eagle
  • Common Goldeneye
  • American Dipper (some days)
  • Killdeer

Check the river seams and the field edges.

Reported here in the last 30 days

● Live from eBird

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Sources

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Live sighting data from eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology · Location research: Washington Trails Association, Eastside Audubon, Birds Connect Seattle, Washington Ornithological Society, Birdful · Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors