grays harbor national wildlife refuge

To get to the refuge, you first go to the airport. Follow the signs. Once you park at the edge of the airport, you walk through a gated area for a considerable distance before you actually get to the refuge trails. For someone who has difficulty walking, just getting there might be out of reach. But on a sunny afternoon, it's a pleasant way to get some exercise.

I'd been to the Harbor once before and enjoyed seeing the birds. My husband and I walked the whole route although the shorebird festival was going on. We only saw one flock of geese landing and one small flock of sandpiper like birds. But we did see a yellow warbler and a Pacific Wren on the trail.

This is a very nice spot to stop and take a walk to view the birds. There are several blinds along the way so you can observe quietly. The surroundings are beautiful and it is a quiet haven.

Best time to visit is during the Annual Shorebird festival in the spring. Check with the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce for the dates. Shuttles will take you from the high school.

Thousands of shorebirds migrating between Mexico and the Arctic appear at the Grays Harbor NWR in late April and early May. We visited during the Shorebird Festival, which was well-attended. The festival arranged to buses between Hoquiam and the wildlife refuge.A mile and a half long boardwalk trail - the Sandpiper Trail - leads from the parking lot out of the mud flats of Grays Harbor. The trail leads through a lovely forest along the way with lots of birdsong accompanying your walk. The farther end of the trail opens up to a wonderful view of the harbor and the nearby forested bluff. We saw lots of shorebirds scurrying about the mud flats and lots of birdwatchers.[--]http://www.shorebirdfestival.com