Recreation
Salmon Art Trail The Salmon Art Interpretive Trail was created to commemorate the
restoration of a small stream near Refuge Headquarters.Visitors
to the stream can now observe the spawning salmon from a curving
ADA accessible boardwalk each fall. Artwork located along the boardwalk
tells the story of the stream and the many species who live there.
Students from the University of Washington Public Arts Program designed,
Visitors may find themselves perched on a mud-loving marine worm while picnicking on the back of a dragonfly. The first stop on a visit to the refuge might be picnicing on a table designed by UW art student Gary Carpenter. The species in Carpenter's table are mud-dependent and less glamorous, a deliberate choice becase the refuge staff wanted the artists' works to represent smaller, underappreciated species. The table top and surfaces of three benches are made of in-laid terrazzo, an ages-old art form in which brightly-colored stones and glass chips are mixed with cement and poured into shapes separated by thin, curving pieces of zinc. Near the dragonfly table, the Salmon Trail winds down a boardwalk that is ADA accessible. Everyone on the path has to step over "A Story in Shards," made of hammered bits of bronze inserted in the boardwalk surface. Artist Allison Blevins made them to represent shards of oil created by the breakdown of plants at the refuge.
Farther up the trail are bronze sculptures of life stages of the tailed frog and western lampreys on a stone su The Salmon Trail is about one-quarter mile long and leads to the Cutthroat Climb loop, which continues another two-thirds of a mile.
The loop rises -- and then falls -- steeply, with wooden steps making the going easier in places. A few huge old-growth hemlocks are interspersed among the smaller trees in the deep-woods experience. Trail hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. Closed weekends and federal holidays HikingHiking trails at Leadbetter Unit at the tip of the Long Beach Peninsula allow visitors to walk through coastal woodlands, salt marshes, and beaches. Many miles of pedestrian only trails link the Leadbetter Unit with an adjacent Washington State Park. These trails can be flooded during the rainy season (October through May), so plan accordingly. Hiking trails occur throughout Long Island. A network of old logging roads converted to trails provide well over 10 miles of hiking opportunities. One of the most popular destinations is the Trail of the Ancient Cedars, a ¾ mile loop trail near the center of the island, which takes visitors through the northern corner of the old growth forest. If you land your boat at the old ferry landing on the southern tip of Long Island and follow the center road north, the trail to the Grove of the Ancient Cedars is approximately 2.5 miles in. The Cutthroat Climb trail that spurs off the Salmon Art Trail provides a climb into the forest surrounding Refuge headquarters. The trail is a moderate .75 mile long trail with steps cut into the hillside for easier movement up and down the ridge. Additional art pieces weave through the trail, providing a perspective of the natural world and fun for all ages. Long IslandLong Island is the Pacific Coast's largest estuarine
island. The island is 5,640 acres and includes a rare 274-acre remnant
of old growth lowland coastal forest. Many of the red cedar trees
in this grove are over 900 years old! The rain-drenched forests
on the island grow rapidly and densely with salal, huckleberry,
western hemlock,
and Sitka spruce. Hundreds of species of mushrooms and other fungus
are also found. NOTE: The harvesting of mushrooms is prohibited. The nutrient-rich marine environment surrounding Long
Island supports oysters, clams, crabs, salmon, steelhead, and numerous
other marine organisms. State owned tidelands are open to public clamming on the western side of Long Island. You must possess a permit to harvest during season established by Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife. Privately owned tidelands, outside of the public tidelands, surround Long Island and are closed to the public. CampingAlthough most national wildlife refuges do not allow camping, Willapa
National Wildlife Refuge permits camping in designated spaces on
Long Island. To minimize disturbances to wildlife and their habitats,
no camping is permitted on the mainland portion of Willapa National
Wildlife Refuge. (For those interested in camping on the mainland,
sites are available at the many area state and county parks and
commercial campgrounds.) CAUTION! HuntingWillapa National Wildlife Refuge provides opportunities for both
big game and waterfowl hunters. Archery hunters interested in a
remote hunting experience find Long Island a challenging place to
pursue Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, black bear, and both ruffed
and blue grouse. A refuge hunting permit is required to hunt on
Long Island but there is no fee for the permit. Many people who
hunt on Long Island prefer to camp overnight since tides can make
travel to and from the island challenging. Most of the refuge lands
on the mainland between Bear River and Teal Slough are open for
those interested in hunting Roosevelt elk or black-tailed deer using
modern firearms or archery. FishingAlthough it surrounds much of southern Willapa Bay, Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is not considered a prime fishing location. However, fishing is permitted from the shores of Willapa Bay. Most visitors interested in fishing on the refuge are in search of sturgeon. Occasionally, other species such as chum salmon are also attempted. Fishing is not permitted on the refuge streams or interior sloughs. For additional information, please see the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. PhotographyThe Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge constructed a photography blind on a seasonal freshwater wetland in 2003. The best time of year to use the blind is during the winter and early spring when the wetland is full of water and feeding waterfowl. The blind is available by reservation only. To make a reservation, please contact Refuge Headquarters at 360-484-3482.
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