Sitting in the northwest of Washington State, Seattle offersan exceptional opportunity for wildlife viewing with locations that can beaccessed in as little as one to three hours. There is no shortage of NationalParks with Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Mount Baker and Olympic all withinstriking distance while state parks, wildlife areas and commercialestablishments all add to mix. With the close proximity to the coast, those onthe hunt for wildlife have the chance to spot not just large land mammals, butwhales and countless migratory birds as well. Here are twelve must-visitwildlife viewing destinations in the Seattle area!
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
The Nisqually River Delta sees the freshwater NisquallyRiver combine with the saltwater of Puget Sound to form an estuary rich innutrients and detritus, ideal for supporting a large network of sea life. Over200 species of birds use the refuge as a migratory stopover. Additionally, therefuge attracts beavers, coyotes, deer, river otter and mink.
Chelan Butte State Wildlife Area
This high elevation wildlife area, nestled between theColumbia River and Lake Chelan, is home to bighorn sheep, coyote, golden eaglesand mule deer. Access is from Chelan Butte Road in the north, Downie CanyonRoad in the west and Stayman Flats Road from the south.
Tip: The hours just before sunrise and just after sunset are always the best time to watch for bears, deer, elk, moose and wolves.
Deception Pass State Park
Spanning both Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands, Deception PassState Park encompasses over 4,100 ac (1,659 ha) and includes 77,000 ft (23,470m) of saltwater shoreline. The park is home to seabirds such as cormorantsalong with bald eagles, porpoises, seals and whales. Highway 20 runs throughthe park.
Hurricane Ridge
Located 17 miles south of Port Angeles on Hurricane RidgeRoad, this is one of the most easily accessed mountain areas in OlympicNational Park. The road to the Visitor Center and the trails around it offeropportunities to view black bear, deer, mountain goats, Olympic marmots andsnowshoe hare.
Hurn Field Property
The Hurn Field Property provides food and shelter during thewinter and spring for a large quantity of elk. The property can be found 3miles west of the town of Concrete on Highway 20. A pullout parking area andinterpretive sign are found at the base of the field where visitors are askedto remain to observe the elk.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is an icon of the Washington State landscape. Themountain is an active volcano and is the most glaciated peak in the continuousUS, spawning five major rivers. Wildlife abounds in the park and includes blackbear, bobcat, coyotes, black-tailed and mule deer, elk, marmots, mountain goat,mountain lion (cougar), red fox, weasels (including the Pine Marten) and more.
Mount Saint Helens Area
The Mount Saint Helens area is home to black-tailed deer andelk which can often be seen along the Merrill Lake shoreline and in the MudflowWildlife Area Unit, but be aware the Mudflow Area is closed from December 1through April 30 to help improve elk winter forage. The wetland areasthroughout the region are home to songbirds and are popular with birders.
North Cascades National Park
A wild and rugged park, North Cascades National Park offersup virgin forests, fragile subalpine meadows and hundreds of glacier-cladmountain peaks. The park is home to black and the occasional grizzly bear,black-tailed deer, fisher, mountain goats, marmots, pikas, grey wolf and over200 species of birds.
Tip: To avoid dangerous wildlife encounters with large mammals, bring binoculars and keep a safe distance.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
While the animals viewed here are not technically in thewild, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, located in Eatonville, is home to over 40different native Northwest animals. These include bears, bison, big cats,wolves and more. The park features a tram tour, adventure and photo tours, ziplines, hiking trails and more. Visit nwtrek.org for more information.
Olympic National Park
The Olympic Mountains feature glacier-capped mountain peaksand old growth rainforest along the Pacific side of the park. Wildlife aboundsboth on land and water and includes black bear, deer, mountain goats, Olympicmarmots, Roosevelt elk and whales. There are over 300 species of birds found inthe park including bald eagles, black oystercatchers, northern pygmy owls andsooty grouse.
Wolf Haven
Wolf Haven is a nationally recognized wolf sanctuary thathas provided a lifetime home for 300 displaced, captive-born animals since1982. The haven offers guided, 50-minute walking tours by appointment onlywhere visitors can get a rare, up-close view of the wolves which are oftenimpossible to see in the wild. Visit wolfhaven.org for more information.
Woodward Bay Conservation Area
The Woodward Bay Conservation Area, just outside Olympia,provides habitat for shorebirds and songbirds. Visitors will find bald eagles,harbor seals, river otters, a large maternity colony of bats and one of themost significant heron rookeries in the state. Trails run through the conservationarea providing viewing access.
And there’s more!
For even more incredible wildlife viewing areas around Seattle, check out our Washington State GPS Maps or our new Adventure Maps for Washington State
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