Pretty standard Fall day. Went on a weekday and there were no crowds and plenty of parking. Trails are all flat and easily accessible. Weather held out with only a little bit of rain, so I could enjoy the Fall colors in the woods and a particularly high tide out on the boardwalk.

Walked the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge trails and boardwalk Sunday morning during the couple hours of sunshine.  The information center is closed due to covid but everything else is open.  Restrooms were open and in good condition.  There is a $3 per car entrance fee - but it is one of the best $3 you will ever spend..  Parking is easy and fairly plentiful, a few cars in the lot at 8, about half full when we left at 11.  No trail issues, though note - the last 250 yards of the estuary boardwalk will be closed Oct 16-24 and then from Oct 27 to Feb 5 due to Washington Fish & Wildlife restrictions.  

Nisqually is just gorgeous and has so much to see.  Lots of wildlife out this morning, eagles, heron, red tail hawk, several types of geese, ducks, gulls, two groups of sea lions sunning themselves on the far shore of McAllister Creek, etc.  The tide was in for our visit and I prefer it that way - while the mudflats can attract more wildlife I think the open water is prettier and it’s neat to be so far out in the water on the boardwalk..  An easy walk around a beautiful estuary.  

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/billy_frank_jr_nisqually/

some area history info - https://www.historylink.org/file/20671

It has been a while since I've been to Nisqually, what a great day! We began our trip about 9am in the larger of the two parking lots about half full. There were very few people out and most were taking pictures of birds. We traveled We past the barns and then headed out to the far end of the boardwalk. This trip has all the views you could ask for with very little effort and is great for bird watchers. We saw quite a few herons and cormorants.  The Olympic Mountains dominate the beginning of the trail and as you approach the gazebo at the end, the view of Mt. Rainier improve dramatically. We could see as far north as the Narrows Bridge and even saw the Anderson Island ferry crossing. 

On our return trip we stopped at the Nisqually River overlook and made our way back on the forest trail with a brief stop at the Riparian overlook. On our way there, we saw a big green turtle in one of the swampy areas.

All in all, a nice way to spend the sunny morning on the water. 

My first week of the Hike-a-Thon and I'm starting with this. I am a regular visitor here and it is a reliably interesting walk. The refuge is a mix of gravel and boardwalk trails and you never know what you might see here. Coyotes, herons, eagles, minks, weasels, owls, bullfrogs and more species of birds than you can count. Great for all abilities and a wonderful opportunity to learn about the natural world. 

Bathrooms are finally open and stocked. The Visitor Center will be next as they stagger the reopening of services. $3 for parking gets you miles of trail and great bird and wildlife viewing. Lots of helpful people around and the best $3 you'll spend all month !

What a magically place! Great for birders and budding or seasoned naturalists. This was our first time and we can’t wait to come back soon.