Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Directions:
From Interstate 5 between Tacoma and Olympia, take Exit 114 (Nisqually), turn west and go under the freeway and follow the signs to the refuge.

Features:
The 2,818-acre wildlife refuge is a former farm that offers two looped trails that are gravel, dirt and plank walkways: the 1-mile Twin Barns Loop trail or the 5-mile Brown Farm Loop Trail. Both loop trails begin from the parking lot. They take you through an orchard and past the farmhouse. The one mile Twin Barns Loop Trail is a fully accessible boardwalk trail with access to the observation platform. The 5-mile Brown Farm Loop Trail going counterclockwise follows the Nisqually River, passes the flats, and winds near McAllister Creek before crossing the dike and returning to the parking area. The trail is an easy walk, with platforms and viewing blinds on the dikes. On the outer edge of the loop, a two-story viewing observation tower provides excellent views onto the vast, unspoiled saltwater tidal mudflats where any number of sea-going birds can be viewed. The salt marshes serve as resting and feeding habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl. Brant feed on beds of eelgrass. The main perimeter loop is fully accessible to wheelchairs, but can get quite muddy. Side trails lead to the marshy inner refuge to photo blinds and other bird-viewing spots. In the summer, much of the inner marsh area is obscured by blackberry vines and leaves. In the winter, views throughout the refuge are excellent. [Map]

A birder's Paradise - Well known by birders, the wildlife refuge is a major mid-trip stopover for migratory birds. There are 100 species of permanent residents and more than 20,000 migratory birds such as mallards, teal, widgeon, Canada geese that gather over the fall and winter. In deeper water to the north, Oldsquaw, Rhinoceros Auklets, murrelets, and Common Murre may be sighted.

Frequently you will see year-round Northwest species such as the redtail hawk, peregrine falcon, and great blue heron. The refuge is home to a nesting eagle pair, which have been raising one or two young every year for the past seven or eight years. Great-horned Owl can often be seen in the cottonwood trees on the one-mile Twin Barns Loop Trail between the Twin Barns and the intersection with the Brown Farm Dike Trail. (There is a Barn Owl nest in the attic of the north barn and they can be spotted going in and out of the west end of the barn after sunset.) The mudflats and saltwater are places to spot ducks, geese, Bald Eagle, shorebirds, and gulls. Red-throated Loon are sometimes in the McAllister Creek river mouth. The McAllister Creek mudflats can be a good place for Greater Yellowlegs. In the fall, watch for Greater White-fronted Geese, Sharp-shinned and Cooper Hawks, and maybe a Sandhill Crane. Lincoln's Sparrow mix with migrating and wintering sparrow flocks. Freshwater ponds hold Sora (rare), American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, and Virginia Rail.

Birding the Brown Farm Dike Trail can be especially rewarding. Check the Nisqually River for Red-breasted Merganser and Barrow's Goldeneye, and nearby riparian and brush habitats for Bushtit, Winter Wren, Spotted Towhee, sparrows, and finches. Listen for Marsh Wren in the cattails and search for migrating warblers in the alders. Deciduous woodlands host numerous songbirds and raptors. Grasslands attract Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Northern Harrier, and feeding Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, American Wigeon, and the occasional Eurasion Widgeon. See i-bird.com species list. Credit for birdwatching notes - Bob Morse and Woody Franzen and the Black HIlls Audabon Society.

Other Info:
The trails and refuge are open from sunrise to sunset. Visitors must be out of the refuge by sunset. The entrance gate will be locked at sunset. The refuge has restrooms and a Visitor Center, which has a bookstore, an information desk run by volunteers, a view of the freshwater marsh, and interpretive exhibits. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Each year a three mile long portion of the Brown Farm Dike Trail is closed during hunting season (October-January). No Pets. Close to I-5, you will hear freeway noise on part of the walk. Also see the US Fish and Wildlife Service website.

Woodard Bay Conservation Area Trail (DNR)

Directions:
From Olympia, go north on Plum Street, which becomes East Bay Drive, then Boston Harbor Road. Turn right on Woodard Bay Road (1 mile past Gull Harbor Mercantile), left on Libby, then an immediate right, back onto Woodard Bay. At the bottom of the hill on the left, is a small parking area for the site. Parking also is available ¼ mile further in the parking lot on the left.

From I-5, take Sleater-Kinney Road north about 4.5 miles, even as it curves and becomes 56th. At the “T”, turn right onto Shincke Road. Follow Shincke as it curves left to become Woodard Bay Road, which then curves right. On the right is the Chehalis Western Trail parking lot. Park there or continue across the bridge and park at the gate.

Features:
A short distance from the entrance, a 1-mile gravel accessible loop trail turns off to the left. Boardwalks in the wettest area now make it usable all year.

The trail winds through a maturing forest of second-growth cedar, big leaf maple and Douglas fir. The 600 acres encompass forest, the protected waters of Woodard and Chapman bays, mudflats, and a rich history that spans from American Indian use to settlement in the 1850s and Puget Sound's logging era. The site also features numerous interpretive signs along a waterfront journey. Photo on left shown courtesy of Liz Thompson.

It is a good place to come and learn about the former uses and about the area's abundant wildlife -- 175 species of birds have been recorded here. Woodard Bay is considered to be one of the best bird watching sites in the Southern Puget Sound area. Winter wrens and kinglets serenade you. it is a host to a variety of species that include the King Fisher, Bald Eagle, Osprey, migratory birds (such as the Surf Scoter and the Bufflehead), Great Blue Heron, seagulls, and Cormorants. Pigeon guillemots and cormorants roost here, and there is a great blue heron rookery. A purple martin colony has been re-established in thearea. You can se e harbor seals, river otters, and the mink are active during the day along the water's edge. If that isn't enough, there is a maternity colony of bats.

Other Info:
Facilities include picnic tables, benches and a toilet. The section of the trail leading to the water is considered wheelchair accessible.

The forested loop trail is closed during the nesting season until May 15 to protect nesting bald eagles. No pets.

Chehalis Western Trail

Directions:
Woodard Bay Trailhead - From I-5 Southbound take exit 105B and merge onto Plum Street. From I-5 Northbound take exit 105, keep right and right again, to the stop lights on Plumb St. Turn left onto Plumb street, go 6 mi (becomes East Bay Drive then Boston Harbor Road). Bear right on to Woodard Bay Rd for 1 mi, road turns left but Woodard Bay Rd continues to the right immediately at end of turn, continue for 0.8 mi. across causeway and around corner. Parking for Chehalis Western Trail is on the left at the far end of parking lot.

Chambers Lake Trailhead - 14th Avenue) (from I-5 north and south bound) Take exit #108 (Sleater Kinney Road) and head south. Cross Pacific Avenue. At the 4-way stop sign, turn right onto 14th Avenue. Follow approximately 1/2 mile. The entrance is after the trestle on the left. Restroom, parking, and picnic areas are available. This is a full-service trailhead with restrooms, picnic areas, and other support facilities.

67th Avenue Trailhead - A trailhead at 67th Avenue with parking and trail information - Take Exit #109 (College Street) and travel south. Cross Pacific Avenue and Yelm Highway. College Street becomes Rainier Road. Follow approximately one (1) mile. Turn right onto 67th Avenue and follow to the end. No restroom facility.

89th Avenue Trailhead - Construction of the trailhead is scheduled for 2003. The facility will include restrooms, parking, picnic sites and equestrian facilities.

Fir Tree Trailhead - a parking area at Fir Tree Road.

12th Avenue Trailhead - in Lacey.

[See Trail Maps]

Features:
A paved rails-to-trails conversion of the Chehalis Western Railroad corridor. The 22-mile trail runs north-south through Thurston County and gives the user a variety of scenery, both urban and rural. It features access to the Puget Sound, Chambers Lake, the Deschutes River, wetlands, forests, farmland, creeks, prairies, and spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. It also features a scenic overlook at Chambers Lake and pedestrian overpass at Yelm Highway. Trailheads are located approximately every two miles on the Thurston County Parks-owned section. The 6 mile Woodard Bay Trail section is the northern part of the Chehalis Western Trail. This 5.3 mi paved trail is managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. It follows the railroad grade to Lacey. Grades are long, but mostly less than 5%; in a couple instances, grades are a little in excess of 5%.

Other Info:
The trail links with the 14.5 mile Yelm-Tenino Trail. Hours of trailheads are from dawn to dusk daily. Gates are closed at dusk. See Emerald City Wanderers review of this trail with photos.

Yelm-Tenino Trail

Directions:
Yelm Trailhead - (from the Westside of Olympia) Take the Tumwater exit off Highway 101 (before entering I-5). Cross over I-5, go past the Brewery and across Capitol Blvd to the light at Cleveland Avenue. At the light, turn right onto Yelm Highway. Follow Yelm Highway until it intersects with Highway 510 near the Nisqually Indian Reservation. At the intersection of Highway 510, turn right and follow into downtown Yelm. Just prior to the first stop light in Yelm, turn right in front of the Yelm City Hall. The Timberland Library is attached to City Hall. The trailhead parking area is to the right of the library.

Features:
The Yelm-Tenino Trail is a 14.5 mile rails-to-trails corridor that runs east-west through the southern portion of Thurston County and connects the communities of Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino. It traverses forest and agricultural lands, wetlands, creeks, and other habitat and runs parallel to State Route 507. The trail begins near Yelm City Park, passes near Wilkowski Park in Rainier and ends at Tenino City Park. There is access to the Deschutes River west of Rainier and over 3/4-mile of footage along McInotsh Lake near Tenino.

Other Info:
Trailheads are also planned in Rainier and Tenino. Ultimately, when fully developed, the Yelm-Tenino Trail will intersect with the 22-mile Chehalis Western Trail and will effectively link the urban communities of Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino with the urban communities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and the Puget Sound.

Directions:
From Olympia - To reach McLane Creek, take the Evergreen State College exit from northbound Highway 101. Then take the Mud Bay exit. Go left at the stop sign and left again onto Delphi Road. At 3.4 miles, turn right at the DNR McLane Creek Nature Trail sign.

From Shelton - Take Evergreen State College/Mud Bay exit from Highway 101. At about 1 mile turn right onto Delphi Road.At 3.4 miles, turn right at the DNR McLane Creek Nature Trail sign.

Features:
More than two miles of level boardwalks to moderately sloping dirt/gravel paths (Only the first mile or so is accessible). The trail winds through mixed evergreen and deciduous woods, around a beaver pond with boardwalks over marshy areas.

This park is part of Capitol State Forest, managed by the DNR. At the first parking area, a trail crosses the road in a large loop that traverses the road again near the entrance. The parking lot at the end of the road is the entrance to a huge pond, where beavers dammed a side channel of McLane Creek. Old logged stumps now topped with young seedlings rise up out of water covered by lily pads. Look for beaver-gnawed stumps on the shore near the marsh viewing platforms. The mixed forest contains gigantic big-leaf maples. One trail follows the old railroad grade where old-growth logs were hauled to Puget Sound by steam locomotives. Interpretive signs throughout the forest describe ecology and managed forestry practices.

Other Info:
Accessible vault toilets. Rest rooms are available in the parking area. Leash and scoop laws in effect for pets.
See also http://www.blackhillsaudubon.org/bestplaces/peep.best.mclane.htm