AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
US-WA-Olympia-NisquallyNationalWildlifeRefuge-2013.01.16-IMG 2388 045.JPG
Brylie Oxley · CC BY-SA 3.0
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Riparian Forest Overlook–Observation Tower, 3 viewpoints

6.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 2 min

Riparian Forest Overlook–Observation Tower, 3 viewpoints is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Nisqually, WA. The route passes Observation Tower before reaching Riparian Forest Overlook at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7 – 16 ft6.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 47.06879, -122.71887
Nearest town Nisqually, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Riparian Forest Overlook–Observation Tower, 3 viewpoints

6.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 2 min

Elevation 6–16 ft

Out & Back · Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 47.06879, -122.71887

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:55 AM · sunset 8:41 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 1.7 miSharp right onto Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.5 miPass Observation Tower.
  4. 150 ftTurn left onto Nisqually Estuary Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 250 ftBear left onto Twin Barns Loop Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  9. 350 ftTurn left onto Riparian Forest Overlook Trail, heading SW.
  10. 500 ftReach Riparian Forest Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 500 ftTurn right onto Twin Barns Loop Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  13. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  14. 100 ftTurn left onto Nisqually Estuary Trail, heading NE.
  15. 0.4 miTurn right onto Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.5 miSharp left, heading NW.
  17. 1.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/riparian-forest-overlook-out-back

Trail surface

51% dirt29% boardwalk20% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 5:55 AMSunset 8:41 PM

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Nisqually, Washington