George C Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Please note that this bird sanctuary is in Canada, so before you leave home, be sure to pack your passport and allow time for a border crossing. 

After you’ve paid for your entry at the main visitor center and gift shop, it won’t take long to begin to appreciate the sanctuary’s opportunity for bird watching and wildlife viewing. Consider asking for a map while you’re here to help guide your wandering around the refuge.

The main trail, a 1.25-mile loop around the entire refuge, starts as you continue straight along the East Dyke portion of the trail. Here you are greeted with an introduction to the number of waterfowl habitat ponds that the refuge features as you walk a wide, flat dirt trail lined with Douglas fir and other native conifers. 

After just 0.3 miles, you’ll reach the end of this portion of trail and have the option to either go to the right and sit in a few of the bird blind shelters for a chance to view the wildlife without startling them. The shelter has room for several people, but be mindful of your volume if sharing the space with others.

Once you decide to continue hiking, you’ll take the trail to the left heading along a marshy, estuary habitat. On this section of trail, purple martins, red-winged blackbirds and cedar waxwings are common in the reeds and in constructed nest boxes visible with binoculars. As you walk, you’ll quickly approach the viewing tour which allows visitors to climb up and get a bird’s eye view (no pun intended) across the entire refuge and surrounding area. 

After you’ve reached the farthest corner of the loop, in another 0.3 miles, follow the trail southbound as you enter the next habitat with views out over the coast. This stretch of trail provides another 0.3 mile of viewing out towards the Salish Sea and the variety of shorebirds that call this beach habitat home. At the next left, turn and continue for 0.3 miles until you reach the entrance to the park.

If you don’t feel satisfied with the scenery or species that you saw, the refuge also contains a number of smaller looping paths through the center area that you just circumnavigated. These trails lead you around slough, pond, and wetland areas that allow for the chance to see any number of waterfowl, songbird or other visitors to this dynamic habitat.