A flat and easy hike through a rich Columbia River bottomland: explore snaking sloughs and observe a slew of bird and wildlife, including the federally endangered Columbian white-tailed deer.

The Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer may be a tongue-twister of a name, but at least no ankles will be twisted on this gentle hike. Established in 1972 to protect habitat for the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer, the refuge includes bottomland forests, open pastures, river islands, and lazy sloughs that evoke the American South rather than the Pacific Northwest.

In 1988 the refuge's name was changed to honor Julia Butler Hansen from nearby Cathlamet. Ms. Hansen served twenty-two years in the state legislature and fourteen years in Congress. She was instrumental in establishing the 5600-acre refuge.

Center Road is a gated and grassy "service road."It marches right through the middle of the refuge, offering plenty of opportunities for spotting a few of the three hundred shy deer residing here. Elk, coyotes, otters, herons, eagles, kingfishers, and osprey are all frequently sighted if you come up short in the deer department.

The trail is only open in the summer months, and your best bet for seeing deer is early in the morning or late in the day. Center Road traverses the refuge through mostly open pasture surrounded by wetlands. Take your time to identify birds and scope out camouflaged critters in the grasses.

Center Road ends in 2.8 miles at Steamboat Slough Road near the refuge headquarters. Either retrace your steps or return via the very lightly traveled Steamboat Slough Road for a loop, adding 0.5 mile. Views along the way include wide sweeping Columbia River vistas that enticed Captain William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame) to exclaim, "Ocian in view!" He was a little premature, but not that far off.