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 © Rick Stasel
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Nearby Parks:
Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Meares State Park
Cape Lookout State Park
Nehalem Bay State Park
Trask River State Fish Hatchery
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| National Park Overview: |
 | On foggy days, a massive silhouette encircled by ocean transports your imagination to times past. If you were close to the refuge in spring the raucous calls of more than 220,000 nesting common murre would fill your ears. Designated as the first National Wildlife Refuge west of the Mississippi River, Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge lies ? mile offshore of the community of Oceanside. One of the Oregon coast's best-known landmarks, the refuge consists of three large and six smaller rocks totaling 15 acres. The refuge is one of the smallest designated Wilderness Areas in the country. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| The rocks provide habitat for Oregon's largest breeding colony of tufted puffins. These flamboyant birds with their large bright orange beaks and long yellow head tufts are one of the most recognizable seabirds on the Oregon coast.
The refuge also supports the largest breeding colony of common murre south of Alaska and is the only pupping site on the north Oregon coast for the federally threatened Steller sea lion. Measuring 10' in length and weighing up to 2,000 pounds, the Steller sea lion is the larger of the two sea lions found on the Oregon coast. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| History of the Area: |
| Three Arch Rocks was established as a National Wildlife Refuge largely due to the efforts of two young men. Conservationists William Finley and Herman Bohlman began photographing the wildlife at Three Arch Rocks from the town of Oceanside in 1901. Several times a week they witnessed hunters row to the rocks to kill scores of sea lions for their skins and oil. Even more disturbing, were the sportsmen that came to the rocks each Sunday for target practice. On these days, thousands of seabirds were exterminated, not for their meat or feathers, but purely for sport. Egg harvesting was also taking its toll on seabird populations. Due to the lack of chicken farms in California at this time, seabird eggs were very valuable and sold for as much as a dollar per dozen.
After studying and photographing the wildlife on the rocks for several years, they brought their findings to President Theodore Roosevelt. They explained the value of the rocks as habitat for wildlife and emphasized the need to protect dwindling populations from hunters and sportsmen. They stressed that a wildlife sanctuary would ensure the survival of seabird and marine mammal populations.
In 1907, Finley and Bohlman's efforts were rewarded when President Roosevelt declared Three Arch Rocks a National Wildlife Refuge. Today, it protects over a quarter million nesting seabirds and is a favorite haulout site for marine mammals. It is the oldest National Wildlife Refuge west of the Mississippi River. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| Cottages and Cabins | |  | Oregon Beach Vacations - Lincoln City, OR
Oregon Beach Vacations chooses our Oregon vacation rentals very carefully. Each home is personally screened prior to acceptance, and we work closely with the property owners to ensure that every Oregon coast rental continues to meet our high standards. Each rental has certain amenities to make it special. You may never want to leave!
Web Site: http://www.oregonbeachvacations.com |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge - Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex ... the first National Wildlife Refuge west of the Mississippi River, Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge lies ? mile offshore of the community of ... | | Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge - Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex ... spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge can easily be ... | | Oregon's Important Bird Areas - Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge - Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge Next in Alpha List - Tillamook County - Pacific Ocean Ecoregion Location On the northern Oregon coast about 2 miles south of Cape Meares and 1 mile west ... | | Cape Meares Lighthouse Oregon Coast - Oregon's Shortest Lighthouse (open April through October) First order Fresnel lens, Interpretive ... the annual whale migration, the Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, nature trails, and ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - ... National Wildlife Refuge -- OR Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge -- OR Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge -- OR Portland, Oregon Sheldon/Hart Mountain Complex -- Lakeview, OR Sheldon ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Bird Checklists of the United States Master Table of Contents United States and Canada U.S. Canada Great Plains States Colorado -- Iowa -- Kansas -- Minnesota ... | | BayOcean House - BayOcean House is a daily and weekly vacation rental house on the Tillamook Bay in Oregon offering ... sea lions and birds at Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. Play in the sand dunes ... | | Travel Guide to Hwy 101 - ... is popular in this small community built on the sides of hills. Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge has the largest concentration of tufted puffins on the coast. Whiskey Creek Fish Hatchery ... | | OSMB - Oregon Administrative Rules for Boaters - Administrative Rules for Boaters Please Note: These pages are maintained by the Oregon State Archives. You may link directly to their page and find duplicate links, except for Chapter 21 - Personal ... | | State Marine Board_250_tofc - ... on Certain Waters in Tillamook County 250-020-0309 Boat Operations at Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, Pacific Ocean, Tillamook County 250-020-0310 Boat Operations on Certain Waters in ... | | Area Campgrounds | | |
| Directions: |
| Both Cape Meares and Oceanside are located on the Three Capes Scenic Route west of Tillamook. When approaching Tillamook on US Highway 101, follow signs for the Three Capes Scenic Route. |
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