Traveler Overview

4.5 553 reviews

Excellent68%
Very good25%
Average5%
Poor1%
Terrible1%

Travelers talk about

“bald eagles”(34 reviews)

“bird watching”(21 reviews)

“high tide”(20 reviews)

About

Located on the Nisqually River Delta in Southern Puget Sound, this refuge consists of three thousand acres of salt and freshwater marshes, grasslands and mixed forest habitats that provide a resting and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory...more

Open Now

Hours Today: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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Contact

100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516-2302

Website

+1 360-753-9467

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Reviews (553)

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Dreamer00974568191

Dupont, Washington

5

Reviewed 1 week ago

Relaxing!

Very enchanting and peaceful. The long walk along the wood decking is amazing! I loved seeing the wildlife.

Date of experience: May 2018

Thank Dreamer00974568191

Bevierae

2

Reviewed 1 week ago

Relax and enjoy

Safe place to work. Great photo opportunities. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Not a place for joggers, Great place for bird watching. Great place for families of all ages.

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank Bevierae

luv2travelkelly

11

Reviewed 1 week ago

Birds Birds Birds

This refuge has lots of birds. The walking paths are clean and nice boardwalks and clean restrooms. We saw lots of Wood Ducks, Mallards, Songs birds, Sea Gulls, Pelicans, Several Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles & Turkey Vultures, etc. Nice viewing areas. Would visit this...More

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank luv2travelkelly

theofog

Olympia, Washington, United States

208

Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

Nature around a Boardwalk!

This is a truly beautiful experience to walk out over the incoming or outgoing tide. You feel so embedded with the tidal experience by being able to walk out on a completely elevated walkway, very even, no elevation walk over the tide flats of the...More

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank theofog

bwanderer1

Everett, Washington

480102

Reviewed December 11, 2018

Well worth the visit

Do you like to hike? Do you like variety? Do you like walks that are flat? If so, this place, which many of us, myself included until recently, passed by and thought of going there "some day." Now, after decades, I have. This is a...More

Date of experience: July 2018

Thank bwanderer1

Carolyn G

182

Reviewed December 11, 2018 via mobile

Wonderful nature walk

This is a great spot to get out into nature at anytime during the year. Popular place for birders. We have come across a tree trunk full of baby raccoons. Fabulous place to walk. Well groomed paths & I feel safe. There is a day...More

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank Carolyn G

white4217

Olympia, Washington

91

Reviewed December 9, 2018

Day adventure close to Olympia!

This is a great place to take a long walk. Easy to get to from I-5. Easy to park. Dress for the weather and in layers as you will be walking in shade and sun depending on the length of walk you take. What wildlife...More

Date of experience: June 2018

Thank white4217

sarabeara

Vancouver, Washington

101100

Reviewed December 3, 2018 via mobile

Great gem right off the freeway

We stopped here after some sporting events in Tacoma. I never knew the nice visitor center and long boardwalk out into the Nisqually flats existed! I was looking to get out and stretch our legs. The visitor center had a room full of paintings by...More

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank sarabeara

jennettea1andonly

Olympia, Washington

3110

Reviewed December 1, 2018 via mobile

Great place for a walk or pictures

I have been here several times before, in multiple seasons. Fall is an awesome time. Lots of people take photos for graduation/maternity shots. I have seen bald eagles here a couple of times, last time there were two who were really close!

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank jennettea1andonly

David P

2

Reviewed November 22, 2018

A Great Place for Viewing Birds and Waterfowl

The Refuge is easy to reach, just a bit off I-5, north of Olympia. It is on the flyway between Canada and points south, and always has great birds and waterfowl to view. Their website is a bit clumsy, but if you want to know...More

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank David P

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Questions & Answers

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See all 12 questions

Doxagirl

Is this really closed on labor day on mondays and Tuesdays.

September 2, 2018|

AnswerShow all 5 answers

To my knowledge, the trails are open every day, the visitor's center does not have to be open for you to walk the trails. I do know the visitor's center is only open from Wed thru Sunday

Doxagirl

Where's a good place to meet for a picnic?

September 2, 2018|

AnswerShow all 4 answers

You can meat in the reserve ground about .5 mile or less walking on the trail close to the historical barn. However you may not light up the grill. I am not certain but you may ask at the reserve office. There are about 4... More

Randy B

How much to go

March 19, 2018|

Answer

Daily fee is $3.00 per four adults. An Interagency Annual Pass (old Golden Eagle), Senior Pass (old Golden Age), or Access Passport, Federal Duck Stamp, or an Annual Refuge Pass will admit the pass holder and 3 additional... More

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Travel Forum Posts

Simone C

South Australia, Australia

Trail walks/hikes around Dupont, Tacoma etc. to do solo? (3 Replies)

I'll be staying around DuPont for a short time and am looking to do some trail walking/hiking in the surrounding area on one of the days. I was thinking of visiting Point Defiance Park as it is not too far. Just wondering about safety. From what I can gather I'm sure i'd be fine but I keep coming across posts that state that Tacoma has a high crime rate? Would these park trails be okay for a solo female? Here at home I wouldn't hesitate at all to go walking/hiking on trails by myself, the...More

May 20, 2017|

Response fromglaciermeadows|

Your chances of a bear encounter are about as good as running into a Koala one the trail. Even in our National Parks your chances are slim. Since I spent so little time in Tacoma I will let others comment. You should be just fine in Port Defiance and also at Nisqually. To bad you are not visiting any of our National Parks.

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