Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Birding is fast becoming a popular hobby of novices and experts alike, and with a large variety of species, Willapa NWR is great place to give it a try! Bring binoculars, a birding ID book or app, and your patience and determination for the best experience. 

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge protects habitats that wildlife, both animals and plants, need to survive. This makes the refuge an outstanding place for wildlife watching and observation! Many ducks, geese and other waterfowl find sanctuary in the refuge during spring and fall migration. Large...

One of the best ways to experience the refuge is to walk the trails! Willapa National Wildlife Refuge has opportunities for all ages and abilities, from short and flat half-mile strolls to multi-mile elevation gain hikes. Please stay on trail and keep a safe distance from wildlife. Habitat...

Refuges provide unique and exciting locations as outdoor classrooms for hands-on learning opportunities. Staff and volunteers from the Refuge and Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge offer an educational program for 4th grade students in Pacific County each year.

Other...

National Wildlife Refuges offer excellent opportunities for wildlife photography. From majestic elk grazing in fields, to flocks of waterfowl flying against a bright-orange sunset. Practice your photography skills on flowering plants and towering trees. 

Please keep a safe distance...

Eelgrass beds, quiet inlets and diverse shorelines await boaters on Willapa Bay. From the water there is an abundance of wildlife watching, including raptors, elk, bear, great blue herons, and flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds.

Launch sites are available from the Refuge in two...

Eelgrass beds, quiet inlets and diverse shorelines await boaters on Willapa Bay. From the water there is an abundance of wildlife watching, including raptors, elk, bear, great blue herons, and flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds.

One launch site is available from the Refuge on the eastside...

Accessible by boat only, Long Island is a refuge rarity for camping. There are 20 campsites in five locations on the island. These, tent-only sites are primitive and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is one exception to this rule, during and one week prior to the early archery...

Clams and oysters may be harvested from public tidelands located on the western side of Long Island as regulated by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Refuge waters include portions of Willapa Bay and the Bear River. Fishing season is year-round. Available saltwater species include chum salmon and sturgeon. Fishing, from boat or bank, is permitted only on Willapa Bay. No fishing is permitted in the freshwater streams, impoundments or sloughs....

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge contains 17,000 acres of uplands and tidelands divided into several management units. All State of Washington hunting regulations apply in addition to all federal and special Refuge regulations. Trapping and baiting are prohibited. All hunting on the refuge...