We arrived just after 2pm to a mostly full parking lot. We carried our Interagency Pass with us, otherwise pay the $3 daily fee before setting out on the trails. Porta potties available at the parking lot and near the barns.

There are many easygoing, completely flat routes to explore. We meandered through the marshes and made the trek to the end of the Estuary Boardwalk at the peak of low tide. There is very little shade on the boardwalk, so best to be prepared on a sunny day with water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Binoculars highly recommended as well!

It was a great day for wildlife. We were treated to a myriad of songbirds, waterfowl, a sunbathing turtle, two garter snakes, two large frogs, bunnies, and even a curious mink. At the end of the Estuary Boardwalk we also heard and saw no less than four adult bald eagles and several juvenile eagles.

There are signs placed throughout the refuge reminding people that masks are required on federal land when adequate distancing is not possible. Some paths are wide, but the boardwalks can be quite narrow. An unfortunate amount of folks did not have any sort of face covering.

This one was a strange hike as I couldn't find the trail that the 60 hikes book talked about which was a 5.5 mile loop from the visitor center. I did find the primarily boardwalk Twin Barns trail and it was a lovely walk by the river where I saw a lot of birds most of which were ducks. I think I saw a kingfisher too and I definitely saw a heron (long neck, very big thin pointed beak :)), some canada geese fly over me as well a very cute deer that I upload here.

But try as I might I could not find the Brown Farm Dike trail in its entirety - and I tried both the entrances I could find next to the visitor center.

That apart, it's a lovely trail - bring your binoculars if you have some - it's very likely you'll see a few birds that you might be curious about :). Its also wheelchair friendly as there is a boardwalk throughout so that's cool.

Would be great if someone can tell me how you do the whole loop which includes McAllister Creek Bank fishing area and the Nisqually Reach. The maps there don't really mention it clearly nor are there clear signs about this trail. So either it's closed now or I just didn't find it :)

It was cold and windy and rainy then sunny. Beautiful area.

We had a beautiful day for our trip to the Nisqually Refuge.  The refuge being the site of a river delta is perfectly flat and easy walking.  There is a mile long boardwalk over the mudflats.  We saw 30 species of birds, many I have not seen in a long time and a few new to me.  There were hundreds of American widgeons, but also northern shovelers, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, surf scoters, a common merganser, green-winged teals, northern pintails, goldeneyes, least sandpipers, lesser yellowlegs, coots, double-crested cormorants, a bald eagle and great blue herons.  One heron found a large snake and we watched it swallow its prey.  We also watched a coyote that found a mouse for lunch.  We had our own lunch at the picnic area near two large barns with some very tame Eastern gray squirrels.  We were amazed to find that most of the cattails were still handsome and intact, usually they have been dispersing their seeds by this time and look pretty bedraggled.  This is a great place to watch wildlife, which is often well-hidden in the deep forest.  Binoculars, if you have some, are strongly recommended. 

Busy on the weekends, we easily parked midweek and paid our $3.

There are portable bathrooms located at the parking area and next to the twin barns.

Take the boardwalk through the Nisqually Delta and keep a lookout for eagles, heron and other birds and wildlife. 

The marsh and grasses made for a nice backdrop and reflections.

A bit over 4 miles roundtrip and accessible for all ages and abilities.

Don't forget your binoculars and camera.