Below is a sampling of Northwest birding locations selected for us by guidebook writer, Craig Romano. Browse the locations below or search the site.
Olympia, WA
The trails give excellent birdwatching vantages of the refuge’s sloughs, dikes, wetland pools, and extensive mud and tidal flats. When the tide is out, take to the boardwalk traversing glistening mud and salt flats.
Olympia, WA
This is a great “pit-stop” on your loop journey. The access from Hwy 101 is easy, and ADA accessible.
Belfair, WA
139 acres of wildlife rich estuary in the Union River Delta at the farthest reaches of Hood Canal.
Hood Canal, WA
The more than a half mile of beach on Hood Canal is where the good birdwatching is at.
Shelton, WA
From the trailhead hike through old-growth trees and an old orchard to the historic 1892-built Malaney-O’Neill House on a small bluff above Oakland Bay.
Harstine Island, WA
An easy one mile trail loops the park’s periphery through quiet woods and along a bluff above the two slender finger inlets making up Jarrell Cove.
Hood Canal, WA
The adjacent Skokomish River delta consists of estuary, riparian forests and extensive wetlands and a heron rookery.
Brinnon, WA
Enjoy more than 1000 acres of prime wildlife habitat along the Dosewallips River at its delta on Hood Canal.
Marrowstone Island, WA
Owing to its location and surrounded by water on three sides, the park is a great spot for watching marine birds.
Port Townsend, WA
The 434-acre park contains high bluffs, a lagoon, mature forest, and extensive beaches.
Sequim, WA
2800 acres of undeveloped beaches, bluffs, and forestland on the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Sequim Bay and Discovery Bay.
Sequim, WA
The park provides access to the 130-mile long North Olympic Discovery Trail, consisting of former railroad lines.
Sequim, WA
The eelgrass beds in Dungeness Bay host some of the state’s largest concentrations of wintering harlequin ducks, scaups, black brants, black-bellied plovers and dunlins.
Port Angeles, WA
When the tide is low, take to a series of staircases leading to beaches, and rocky shelves for better viewing.
Port Angeles, WA
If you have a boat or kayak you can paddle to nearby DNR beaches and tidal flats. Otherwise you can observe birds from the park’s small beach.
Clallam Bay, WA
Mile long sandy spit with beach walking, views of Vancouver Island, and excellent birdwatching. The river attracting a wide array of birds and mammals.
Neah Bay, WA
(TRAIL CURRENTLY CLOSED) From viewpoints teetering high above the surf, look fora variety of shorebirds.
Pacific Coast, WA
9.4 miles roundtrip loop including lake, forests, bogs and beach walking.
La Push, WA
This wide river, formed by glacier-fed tributaries, provides excellent habitat for a wide array of avian species.
Pacific Coast, WA
From a bluff top trailhead, hike through a salt-sprayed maritime forest for .2 mile to the beach set before contorted sea stacks and Abbey Island just offshore.
Pacific Coast, WA
The birding is excellent from these easily accessible Olympic National Park beaches.
Quinault, WA
Follow the Quinault National Recreation Trails to waterfalls, cedar bogs, giant primeval trees, lakeshore and crystal-clear creeks.
Grays Harbor, WA
Damon Point is on what was once Protection Island. But through accretion the point is now on a 1.5 mile long spit.
Grays Harbor, WA
The basin is inundated with hundreds of thousands of shorebirds from late April to early May.
Montesano, WA
The main trail travels along Lake Quigg’s shoreline passing a floating dock, several boardwalks, interpretive signs, and a dock on the Chehalis River.
