Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge — Saturday, Apr. 30, 2016

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

Today we met some friends and hiked the boardwalks through the wildlife refuge. From the parking lot at the visitor center, we started our trip on the service road out to the twin gray barns. Before becoming a wildlife refuge, the property was once a large dairy farm. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service bought the land in 1974. Later on the dikes were removed so the property could once again be a marsh/river delta. From the barns we headed west on a gravel dike road between the salt water tide lands and the fresh water marsh area out the one mile long raised board walk over the tide flats. Along the marsh we saw geese and ducks. There are three covered viewing platforms on the boardwalk with benches and interpretive signs showing various birds that use the refuge. While walking on the boardwalk we could look down into some tide pools to see small crabs and other wildlife. You also get a view of Mt. Rainier to the east. We saw several great blue herons, different types of gulls and an eagle's nest across McAllister Creek. At the end of the boardwalk is the Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve and out to Anderson Island. The towers of the Narrows Bridge can be seen to the north. There were 15 kayakers heading upstream on McAllister Creek. On the walk back, we took the Twin Barns Loop Trail that is on another boardwalk through some wetlands. There are some beaver dams and ponds with more wildlife to see. From the parking lot out to the end of the mile long boardwalk is 4 miles round trip. Lots of people out on this sunny day, bird watchers, families with kids and lots of us seniors. Note: The one mile long boardwalk is closed each year from the middle of October to the end of January for the water fowl hunting season.