Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located about halfway between Tacoma and Olympia along the shores of Puget Sound. The wildlife refuge preserves the area around the mouth of the Nisqually River as it flows into Puget Sound, a location where a plethora of birds and water fowl can be found throughout the year.

The parking lot at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, which is small and fills up quickly on weekends, is stationed right in front of a small visitor center that offers some information about the refuge and the types of wildlife that can be found there. Behind the visitor center a couple different walking trails stretch out into the refuge. The trails vacillate between traditional paths and boardwalks, which meander through wetlands and give visitors a nice opportunity to see both the ecosystem and the large number of waterfowl, herons, egrets, birds of prey, and other bird species that frequent the area. One of the trails eventually leads to a boardwalk that takes visitors out into Puget Sound, where it’s possible to spot some of the other wildlife that lives here, such as seals and sea lions.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge might not be the first natural area one thinks of in western Washington, but it’s a wonderful place to take a hike and get out into nature. Its location just off Interstate 5 makes it easy to access, and the scenery at the refuge is beautiful. In addition, birds constantly migrate through this area, so visitors have the opportunity to spot lots of different birds in every season. We highly recommend this lovely wildlife refuge.