Facility Activities

At Bandon Marsh NWR, the patient observer will be rewarded with many wildlife viewing opportunities. Refuge nature trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. There are three refuge access points: Bandon Marsh Overlook at Riverside Drive, and the Ni-les'tun Marsh Viewing Platform and South Coast Office on North Bank Lane. 

Wildlife watching

Some tips to make watching wildlife enjoyable and rewarding:

Download our Watchable Wildlife guide, consult Oregon Explorer's Watchable Wildlife page to locate hotspots for wildlife, or look for the "Wildlife Viewing Station" sign wherever you visit. Plan your visit according to the season,...
Hiking

The longest trail and best one for hiking is the Myrtlewood Grove Nature Trail, accessible from the Office parking area. Wear close-toed shoes for this grassy and occasionally muddy mile long trail. Bug spray is a good idea during the warmer months and be sure to check for ticks after your hike...

Boating - non-motorized

Visitors can get a different perspective by exploring the refuge from the Coquille River! Visitors may explore the Refuge with by boat at some tides, especially the Fahy Creek area which offers wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities. Visitors can launch a small motorized boat,...

Hunting

Coastal wetlands in southwest Oregon can provide a diversity of duck and goose hunting opportunities, but these areas are often difficult to access. More than 500 acres of tidal marshes at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge are open for public hunting at both Ni-les’tun Marsh east of U.S...

Fishing

Fishing is permitted at Bandon Marsh NWR during daylight hours on both Bandon Marsh and Ni-les'tun Marsh. The refuge offers opportunities to fish for salmon, steelhead, sea-run cutthroat trout, striped bass and surfperch from the banks of the Coquille River. Tidal channels within the...

Shell fishing

Shellfishing is permitted at Bandon Marsh west of U.S. Hwy. 101. No shellfishing is permitted on Ni-les’tun Marsh. The fishing areas of the refuge are open during daylight hours. Primary fishing on Bandon Marsh is shellfishing on refuge tidal flats.

Photography

Perhaps the fastest growing activity on national wildlife refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography. That’s not surprising—the digital camera population explosion and cell phones with ever-improving picture-taking abilities are increasing the number of nature photographers at a...