Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge- The Best Place to Stroll and Observe Nature (Tacoma, WA)

A variety of beautiful places exist close to where I live. One of them is Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

From south of Seattle, visitors can get to Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge right after exit 114 on the I-5. The refuge is a nature studying field where visitors can experience real, natural ecology.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service operates the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on the Nisqually River Delta near Puget Sound. Located in parts of northeastern Thurston County and northwestern Pierce County, the refuge is just off Interstate 5, between Tacoma and Olympia.

Created in 1974 to provide a habitat and nesting areas for water fowl and migratory birds, the 12.6 sq. km. refuge includes a protected estuary, salt marshes, open mudflats, freshwater marshes, open grassland, and riparian woodland and brush. Another 1.2 sq. mi. (3.2 sq. km.) area is protected by the disjoint Black River Unit on a tributary of the Chehalis River.

The Nisqually River Delta is Washington’s largest relatively undisturbed estuary. The convergence of the Nisqually River (freshwater) and south Puget Sound (saltwater) has created a variety of unique environments, each rich in nutrients and natural resources, for the more than 300 different species of fish and wildlife that live in the area.

We visited Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge several times and it was always crowded with people. It was mid-September when we visited this time, and still many visitors were there. It was a rather warm day.

I came here to take a stroll with my wife. Since the refuge area is connected to the ocean, it becomes foreshore scenery during low tides. We did not plan to visit during low tide, but each time we’ve come before it happened to be during low tide, except this time.

This time I felt Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge rather cozier with the water due to the high tide. Many visitors were there busy exercising or enjoying a date or observing the birds.It is very convenient since there is a wooden bridge from the entrance to the ocean and it felt like we were walking on the ocean during the high tide. I did not check the time, but from the entrance to the ocean, I think it was a great length for exercise purposes.

Every time when I visited here I saw photographers observing the birds with large zoom lenses.
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is the epitome of a peaceful atmosphere. Everything is relaxing and calm there and it is a great place to feel fall and winter.