woodard bay natural resources conservation area

Newly opened after a fantastic renovation, this area is perfect for anyone interested in nature, history or just plain peace and quiet beauty. The entire hike is no more than 2 miles round trip with a mile loop into the woods. When you arrive down at the water, you can explore in almost every direction. They have done a great job coalescing all the elements of the area's natural and productive history. There is a bathroom, picnic tables, benches and a pavilion. Take your time and enjoy the area as we certainly did. We will definitely return and bring the grandkids.

The hike is well worth the views you get if the sound. We rarely run into anyone when we head out there during the week. It is very serene. Love the sound of all the birds.

I always love coming out here. The trails aren't maintained very well but that's what makes it so much better. The views are great and sometimes you can catch different types of wildlife in the area.

Just a 10 minute drive from downtown Olympia, Woodard Bay is an amazing getaway if you want to enjoy nature's wonders in a quiet setting. This Natural Resource Conservation Area, managed by the WA Dept. of Natural Resources, is essentially the state equivalent of a wildlife refuge and is intended for very low impact human use such as wildlife viewing, walking, photography and picnicking. Not only are the views beautiful, but the bays and woodlands of this area host an impressive array of wildlife, with eagles, herons, waterfowl, seals, river otters and other species varying with the season. The fact that neither dogs nor bicycles are allowed here increases the opportunities to see wildlife and enhances the visiting experience for those seeking solitude. Folks looking for more active recreation can access the Chehalis Western Trail from a separate parking lot about 0.1 miles east of the Woodard Bay bridge. Both bikes and leashed dogs are welcomed on the Chehalis Western Trail. If you visit Woodard Bay, remember that you'll need to display a Washington Discover Pass on your vehicle to avoid getting ticketed and fined.

The loop trail at Woodard Bay is really, really beautiful. It's not more than about a mile and a half and there's not really any major elevation changes. After you finish the loop, you can walk out to the water and enjoy the scenery - usually, you can see and hear the seals out on the log boom!