Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Today we drove to the Nisqually National Wildflife Refuge near Lacey. We walked along the Twin Barns Loop Trail with a side trip along the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail and back, overall a beautiful trail with nice sitings of wildlife, 4.6 miles overall.

We went counterclockwise on the Twin Barns Loop Trail, stopping at the Riparian Forest Overlook and the Nisqually River Overlook, views along this section

Along the Nisqually Estuary Trail towards the boardwalk, we had a nice view of some Olympic Peaks across Puget Sound

Views along the Boardwalk over the estuary

zoom of Mt Rainier above and below

Great blue heron and seals seen from the boardwalk

view near the Twin Barns

mallards and a beaver swimming in the freshwater wetlands as we finished the Twin Barns Loop Trail

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

This morning, I went to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and walked on various trails for 4.5 miles. Because it was foggy, I started along the Twins Barn Loop Trail going to the Riparian Forest and Nisqually River Overlooks, before taking the Estuary Boardwalk Trail out to the end and then finishing the Twinds Barn Loop back to the parking area. The pond behind the Visitor Center

Forest views in the riparian area:

Views along the Estuary Boardwalk Trail at low tide today

Lots of bald eagles out this morning, here is one in the distance

some of the shorebirds seen this morning

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

This morning I drove to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Part of the boardwalk by the pond was closed due to the recent storm damage. I went along the section that was open, continued past Twin Barns and out along the long boardwalk and back for 3.5 miles round trip. Gorgeous day with many seabirds and some seals. Views along my route

zoom of two of the seals

some of the seabirds seen this morning