Traveler Overview

4.5 549 reviews

Excellent68%
Very good25%
Average5%
Poor1%
Terrible1%

Travelers talk about

“bird watching”(21 reviews)

“bald eagles”(31 reviews)

“high tide”(19 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

Closed 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 (549)

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1 - 10 of 546 reviews

brifd1

Everett, Washington

42195

Reviewed 2 days ago

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 brifd1

Carolyn G

182

Reviewed 2 days ago 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 4 days ago

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 1 week ago 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

Jennette A

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

2110

Reviewed 1 week ago 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 Jennette A

David P

2

Reviewed 3 weeks ago

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

kmk2001

Freeport, Florida

5220

Reviewed 3 weeks ago via mobile

Nature walk

A great place to take a leisure or brisk walk amongst the beautiful scenic views...plenty of places to sit and rest if need be...definitely a great place for photo taking especially of the bald eagles!

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank kmk2001

Roxie12chick

Olympia, Washington

547

Reviewed 4 weeks ago via mobile

Chaperone for a school trip

8th grade end of the year trip. The needed to identify types of birds and trees on a couple of miles of trail walk. The day was actually nice and my son got to pick his group, so he picked his friends and I have...More

Date of experience: June 2018

1 Thank Roxie12chick

grcguest

Kalispell, Montana

1333

Reviewed November 4, 2018 via mobile

Nice place to visit in a big city

Lots of birds, relaxing atmosphere. Beautiful fall day, A few reader boards and an informative pamphlet help with educating about the place. A nice boardwalk to walk on. Views of the meadows, wetlands, forest, waterfowl, birds, river, etc.. gives you a quiet place in nature...More

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank grcguest

Barbara C

Olympia, Wa, US

135

Reviewed November 3, 2018

Always great

Long boardwalked nature trails, an estuary that has been revived, and interesting animals and birds. I've seen baby owls, and beavers.

Date of experience: December 2017

Thank Barbara C

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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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